This medical innovation, based on collaborative research by Drs. Marco Mercader, M.D., a cardiologist; Matthew Kay, D.Sc., a biomedical engineer; and Narine Sarvazyan, Ph.D., a physiologist, at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) and the GW School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), has immediate groundbreaking potential in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (AF), the most common irregular heartbeat affliction in the U.S.
BOSTON/WASHINGTON – The George Washington University (GW) and Allied Minds, Inc., a premier U.S. investment firm, are pleased to announce the formation of LuxCath LLC, a medical technology company that is developing real-time lesion visualization technology based on breakthrough research from the university.
LuxCath's technology for directly visualizing tissue and lesions in real time has initial application in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (AF). AF is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, in the U.S., affecting more than 2 million people, or about 1 in every 150 individuals. The relatively new but minimally invasive procedure used to restore the heartbeat to a normal pace, known as Radio Frequency Catheter Ablation (RFCA), optimally requires a real-time, lesion-identifying, direct visualization tool in order to be performed consistently, effectively, quickly and safely.
"We formed LuxCath to ensure that electrophysiologists are treating the right parts of the heart in atrial fibrillation patients quickly and effectively," said Dr. Omar Amirana, M.D., Managing Director for Life Sciences at Boston-based Allied Minds. "LuxCath's technology should significantly improve procedural outcomes for patients, speed up procedures, as well as minimize costly and burdensome follow-up re-treatments."
This medical innovation is based on collaborative research by Drs. Marco Mercader, M.D., a cardiologist at the GW Medical Faculty Associates (MFA) and SMHS professor; Matthew Kay, D.Sc., a biomedical engineer at the GW SEAS ; and Narine Sarvazyan, Ph.D., a physiologist, at the GW SMHS. This collaboration represents GW's growing interest in investing in research programs that may become the basis of corporate partnerships like this one with Allied Minds.
"Such partnerships are crucial to bring the benefits of collaborative research and the development of innovative technologies to those who need them; and to provide an opportunity to fully develop and provide products in the commercial market," said University Vice President for Research Leo Chalupa.
"We were impressed with the collaboration across multiple disciplines and amongst multiple schools at GW in this arena. Bringing new thinking to problem solving and cross-fertilizing ideas to optimize and apply an innovative technology to a real-world problem was particularly compelling to us. We commend GW's efforts here," commented Dr. Amirana.
Drs. Mercader, Kay and Sarvazyan have focused their research for many years on AF because effectively treating the condition is one of the biggest problems hospitals face, not just in the U.S., but around the world.
To date, monitoring tissue injury in real time remains a major limitation of current ablation approaches," said Dr. Mercader. "Detection of viability gaps between the lesions and closure of these gaps during a single radio frequency ablation would increase both the safety and efficacy of therapy. We are very excited to develop products that will significantly enhance the lives of patients."
More information about LuxCath can be found on the web at http://alliedminds.com/subsidiaries/luxcath, or by calling 617.419.1800.
About Allied Minds, Inc.
Allied Minds, Inc. is a U.S. investment firm that deploys private equity to form, fund, manage and build start-ups based on early-stage technologies developed at renowned U.S. universities and federal research institutions. Allied Minds serves as a diversified holding company that supports its businesses with capital, management and shared services, and is the premier investment firm to utilize this novel and fully integrated approach to technology commercialization. More information about the Boston-based company can be found at www.alliedminds.com.
About the George Washington University
In the heart of the nation's capital with additional programs in Virginia, the George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study, as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 130 countries.
About the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Founded in 1825, the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) was the first medical school in the nation's capital and is the 11th oldest in the country. Working together in our nation's capital, with integrity and resolve, the GW SMHS is committed to improving the health and well-being of our local, national and global communities. www.smhs.gwumc.edu
About the GW School of Engineering and Applied Science
GW's School of Engineering and Applied Science prepares engineers and applied scientists to address society's technological challenges by offering outstanding undergraduate, graduate, and professional educational experiences and by providing innovative, fundamental, and applied research activities. The school has five academic departments, 11 research centers, 90 faculty, and 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students. Core areas of academic excellence include biomedical engineering, cybersecurity, high performance computing, nanotechnologies, robotics, and transportation safety.