Skip to main content

GE & Partners Announce Winners Of the First Stage of $100M "HEALTHYMAGINATION CANCER CHALLENGE"

General Electric announced today five innovation award winners as part  of the first stage of its $100 million "GE healthymagination Cancer Challenge." More than 500 ideas from 40 countries were submitted, sparking robust conversations among more than 200 academic institutions and  researchers on the Challenge's open innovation platform.

The five innovation award winners have the potential to help doctors find cancer earlier, make more accurate diagnoses and choose the best possible treatment based on each patient's unique cancer. The submitted  ideas include ones that could help doctors better understand the molecular similarities between breast cancer and other solid tumors with a particular focus on tumors associated with triple negative cancer, a type of  cancer that is less responsive to standard treatments and is typically more aggressive. GE is committed to a  new approach at healthymagination that shines a spotlight on early-stage ideas to accelerate the researchers' work and ultimately help patients sooner.

Beth Comstock, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, GE said, "We launched the Challenge as a call to action for oncology researchers, businesses, and other innovators around the world to accelerate  innovation and help stop this deadly disease. It is often challenging for early stage research to grab the attention of seed investors. The Challenge has shown us that there are a remarkable number of breakthrough ideas out there that deserve promotion, investment and incubation."

In addition to the $100,000 seed award, GE will provide support for each winner through mentorship and  access to GE researchers and industry thought leaders with opportunity for expanded partnerships in the  future. "GE and Clarient focus on helping health providers understand and define the drivers of a patient's  particular cancer. The Challenge winners' work will change the future of fighting cancer," said Carrie Eglinton-Manner, general manager of Clarient, the cancer diagnostics company acquired by GE in 2010.

"In addition  to the grant money, we will help mentor, develop and accelerate the growth of these winning ideas."

The winners were selected by a panel of judges that included venture capital partners, GE executives, and several leading healthcare luminaries including former U.S. FDA Commissioner and National Cancer Institute  Director, Dr. Andrew Von Eschenbach; Professor of Surgery and Director of the University of Michigan Breast  Care Center, Dr. Lisa Newman; and cancer medicine specialist and Imperial College's professor of cancer medicine, Dr. Justin Stebbing.

The five innovation Challenge award winners are:
  • MyCancerGenome- Personalized Approach to Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Vanderbilt University is developing MyCancerGenome, a free online cancer medicine resource and decision-making tool for physicians, patients, caregivers and researchers. It provides up-to-date information on what mutations make breast cancer grow and related treatment implications, including available genome- directed clinical trials for triple negative breast cancer.

  • Creating Safer & Stronger Breast Implants with Cancer-fighting and Healing Properties: The University of Akron is developing new materials for breast reconstruction to transform tissue expanders and implants into cancer-fighting and healing devices. Using coatings embedded with pharmaceutical agents the new device is expected to help fight infection, reduce inflammation, and possibly even target and destroy stray cancer cells.
  • Identifying a Predisposition to Cancer Spread: Moffitt Cancer Center is working to understand the genetic "modifier" genes and their role in predisposition to the spread of cancer to other parts of the body following cancer onset. This research could form the basis of diagnostic testing for genes that place a patient at disproportionate risk for cancer spread and guide aggressiveness of treatment.

  • Saving Lives in Developing Countries: For developing countries such as Uganda, breast ultrasound holds promise in identifying cancers in young women with palpable lumps. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) in Kampala are establishing a breast cancer screening program where women will receive education about breast cancer and those with symptoms will be offered clinical breast exam and breast ultrasound. Women with suspicious lumps will be referred to the UCI for tissue sampling and, if malignancy is diagnosed, treatment.

  • Moving to Personalized Therapy for Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Researchers at Vanderbilt- Ingram Cancer Center have demonstrated that gene expression analysis reveals at least six distinct disease subtypes for triple negative breast cancer that likely respond differently to chemotherapy. Using this discovery, the Center is designing clinical trials with targeted therapy for select subtypes which will soon be offered to patients.

Information on the winners is available at www.healthymagination.com.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Children Have a Right To Learn About Our Past"

Tracking CRT While many on the right have opposing viewpoints about the critically acclaimed phenomenon that is CRT (Critical Race Theory) that would teach the truth about the founding of America, groups like the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights say 'children have a right to learn about our past." In a press release on Wednesday, the LCCHR writes the following: WASHINGTON  – In light of the ongoing attempts to whitewash and erase the history of the United States, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, along with 79 civil rights and education organizations, today released a response condemning the attacks on critical race theory, culturally responsive curricula, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.  The full response is below and available  here .  “All students deserve access to an education that prepares them to succeed in college, career, and life and to fully exercise their social, political, and economic rights. Attempting to gag ed...
Post a Comment
Read more

National Action Network National Convention

The National Action Network , led by Reverend Al Sharpton , convenes this week at the DC Convention Center. The convention started off with the parents of Trayvon Martin speaking at the convention on the arrest of George Zimmerman, the murderer of their son. The event also hosted Magic Johnson and Department of Justice head, Eric Holder. The convention will continue through this week. Watch live streams below. officialnationalactionnetwork on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free
Post a Comment
Read more

Howard Dean, Phylicia Rashad, Sorry For 'Insensitive' Cosby Tweet

Phylicia Rashad , Howard alum and recently appointed Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Howard University, offered her sincere apologies to the university’s parents and students after showing her support this week for Bill Cosby who was released from jail on sexual assault charges.  Bill Cosby with Phylicia Rashad for The Cosby Show. (Circa 1984) Shortly after Cosby’s release, Rashad tweeted (then deleted), “FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected!” along with a picture of her The Cosby Show TV husband with raised arm and fisted stance.  RELATED: Cosby Responds Her remarks got the attention of the Twitter-sphere who, along with her employer, thought Ms. Rashad’s comments were also “insensitive.” In a statement, Howard University wrote, “… her initial tweet lacked sensitivity towards survivors of sexual assault...” One Twitter user, @chellech, questioning the allegiance of Howard University to Rashad tweeted, "I wouldn't ...
Post a Comment
Read more