GE HealthCare, BARDA Partner on AI Ultrasound
GE HealthCare and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) have entered into a $35 million collaboration. The partnership will focus on developing AI-powered ultrasound technology to help clinicians assess traumatic injuries, particularly in cardiac and lung applications.
- This $35 million in funding is an expansion of an existing $44 million contract from October 2023, bringing the total public-private investment to as much as $64 million. The initial agreement focused on AI algorithms for detecting intracranial pressure and assessing abdominal and lung injuries. - BARDA's involvement aims to develop medical countermeasures for mass casualty incidents and public health emergencies. The agency, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, frequently partners with private industry to fund innovations that are critical for national preparedness but may not be commercially viable otherwise. - A primary goal of the collaboration is to create AI tools that enable non-expert users to acquire and interpret diagnostic-quality images in high-pressure, field-based settings like field hospitals and medical transport. This addresses a key bottleneck in emergency situations where trained sonographers are not available. - The expanded scope of work includes developing more detailed assessments for lung and pleural pathologies and improving the detection of intra-abdominal injuries. This enhances the utility of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for rapid triage. - The project focuses on the Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) market, a segment valued at over $4 billion in 2025 and projected to grow significantly. GE HealthCare is a major competitor in this space with its Venue and Vscan product lines. - This partnership is part of a larger AI-focused strategy for GE HealthCare, which has recently made several acquisitions of AI-enabled imaging technology companies, including the $2.3 billion purchase of Intelerad.
