University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) department of radiology and biomedical imaging and GE HealthCare have launched a joint research collaboration.

The research collaboration, dubbed Care Innovation Hub, is designed to address challenges in imaging, neurological and neurodegenerative disease, and precision oncology.

The Care Innovation Hub builds on a decades-long relationship between UCSF and GE HealthCare, bringing research focus areas under one framework.

It integrates UCSF’s research and clinical expertise in critical care areas with GE HealthCare’s deep knowledge of research and product development.

Also, it leverages the strengths of academia and industry to advance the diagnosis and treatment of disease, improve hospital operations and enhance equitable access to care.

UCSF department of radiology and biomedical imaging research vice chair Sharmila Majumdar said: “Our collaboration with GE HealthCare brings a practical focus on addressing well-defined clinical objectives.

“Together, we’re accelerating innovation in ways that will improve access to care and outcomes across healthcare settings.”

The Care Innovation Hub focuses on building an imaging service line, advancing solutions for neurodegenerative disease, and driving accessible precision oncology.

UCSF and GE HealthCare would jointly develop more automated imaging methods, such as patient-specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to improve medical imaging services.

They aim to explore the connection between white matter injury, vascular disease, and Alzheimer’s disease, and identify effective ways to predict brain health treatments.

Also, they plan to develop quantitative imaging methods to monitor patient response to radiopharmaceutical therapies (RPTs) and to expand access to emerging treatments.

The collaboration aims to standardise processes for new approaches, including the visualisation of alpha-emitting radiopharmaceuticals.

The research activities under the collaboration will be conducted at UCSF facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.

GE HealthCare research and scientific affairs global vice president Erin Angel said: “We’re honoured to collaborate with UCSF on this important work, which has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes and address life-threatening diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and prostate cancer worldwide.

“By combining our strengths, we’re taking steps toward solutions that meet real clinical needs. Together, we’re building something we hope will make a meaningful difference for patients and the future of healthcare.”