GE accelerates nano imaging agent development

GE Global Research reported  a two-year cooperative research and development agreement with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to accelerate the development of nanoparticle based imaging agents for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and heart disease.

“GE’s nanoparticle based imaging agents have the potential to be huge enablers of a new medical imaging paradigm, not only in the treatment of cancer but also cardiac disease, by allowing clinicians to see, target and treat disease at much earlier stages than what is possible today,” said Dr. Amit Kulkarni, Manager, Chemical Nanotechnology Lab, GE Global Research.

The NCI’s Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL), operated by contractor SAIC-Frederick Inc., will evaluate the safety and feasibility of GE's nanoparticle diagnostic imaging agents.

The NCL is a collaboration of the NCI, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and is part of the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer.

Dr. Kulkarni added, “The NCI’s Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory will be a tremendous asset in helping us accelerate the process for fully assessing the safety and effectiveness of GE’s imaging agents.”

GE’s development of nanoparticle based imaging agents is a major part of its advanced technology program in nanotechnology and is supported by GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics.

The cooperative research and development agreement between GE and NCI is the first under NCI's new Advanced Technology Partnerships Initiative, which seeks to accelerate the delivery of new products to cancer patients.

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