Stanford Radiology and GE HealthCare establish Center of Excellence to advance innovations for next-generation imaging
Stanford Radiology is expanding its long-term research collaboration with GE HealthCare through the establishment of a Center of Excellence designed to push the boundaries of medical imaging technology.
The center will coordinate research programs across magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, molecular imaging, artificial intelligence, pharmaceutical diagnostics, and interventional radiology - some fields of which our two organizations have already made significant contributions to patient care worldwide.
"This collaboration exemplifies Stanford Radiology’s commitment to translational research that makes a real difference in patients' lives," said Umar Mahmood, MD, PhD, chair of the Stanford Medicine Department of Radiology. "Our renewed collaboration will enable us to push the boundaries of what advanced imaging can deliver for patients, aiming to set a new standard for what's possible in our field."
In January 2025, Stanford Medicine Department of Radiology opened a second Cyclotron and Radiochemistry Facility, reflecting the institution’s continued investment in research infrastructure to support advanced molecular imaging research.
Building on decades of innovation
Stanford Radiology’s collaboration with GE HealthCare has quietly shaped modern medical imaging since the 1980s. Over 40+ years, the collaboration has produced 153 funded research projects led by 44 Stanford faculty investigators, resulting in 184 peer-reviewed publications and 66 licensed patents.
Stanford Radiology researchers have been instrumental in developing and validating several GE HealthCare technologies now used in clinics worldwide. Most recently, the department installed a prototype GE HealthCare photon counting CT (PCCT) scanner, recently cleared by the U.S. FDA, at 3155 Porter Drive, where researchers are conducting research to evaluate image reconstruction techniques, fully utilize the spatial and spectral resolution, and identify the pathology- and disease-specific advantages that PCCT offers.
Stanford Radiology-led research has also helped establish the framework for GE HealthCare's Sonic DL technology, which uses deep learning to enable high-quality cardiac MRI scans in a single heartbeat — a significant improvement over traditional methods that require multiple heartbeats and longer scan times. The collaborative research efforts have also helped with the development of clinical features in SIGNA™ MRI platforms, including the Sprint 1.5T, Bolt 3T, and AI-powered One workflow platform, all recently cleared by the U.S. FDA.
Brian Pogatchnik, MD, Nancy Pham, MD, and Adam Wang, PhD in front of a GE HealthCare PCCT scanner at RSNA in November 2025.
A Collaboration Focused on Impact
“Stanford and GE HealthCare have a long-standing relationship achieving significant impact in medical imaging, translating bold ideas into clinical practice,” said Roland Rott, CEO and President of Imaging at GE HealthCare. “By combining Stanford’s world-class clinical expertise and pioneering mindset with our robust experience in advancing medical technology, we’re able to achieve more together and drive an integrated solutions approach to help shape the future of healthcare.”
Erin Angel, PhD, GE HealthCare's global vice president for research and scientific affairs, emphasized the translational focus of the collaboration. “Our collaboration with Stanford Radiology reflects a shared commitment to transforming scientific ideas into meaningful clinical translation. Through the Center of Excellence, we are aligning research expertise and innovative technology to accelerate pioneering imaging techniques from the lab into real‑world clinical workflows that have the potential to genuinely improve patient care.”
For Stanford Radiology, the deepened collaboration represents both continuity and evolution, allowing the department to build on a legacy of scientific discovery while pursuing increasingly ambitious goals in precision imaging and AI-enhanced diagnostics.
The center will leverage what both organizations describe as complementary strengths: Stanford's academic rigor, clinical expertise and culture of innovation, combined with GE HealthCare's technological and engineering capabilities.