Yesterday in New York City GE Healthcare unveiled a new $1 billion initiative to fund innovative cancer research in a variety of cancer fields. 
The initial focus is on breast cancer thanks to $100 million, raised with help from a few venture capital funds, that will fund an open innovation challenge that seeks to identify promising new approaches to improve breast cancer diagnostics.
Additionaly, GE unveiled an impressive portable mammography concept as part of a portfolio of integrated technologies aimed at combating cancer. The SenoCase is mobile mammography system which can be folded and easily stored in a car boot. According to GE, such portability could remove geographical barriers to regular breast screening for many women on a global scale. The system could also be more cost effective than conventional mammography systems, making it more accessible to smaller practices and clinics.
According to the SenoCase fact-sheet, GE hopes to include:
- A standard field of view Cesium Iodide detector
- Similar image quality to a full-field digital mammography system
- A user-friendly interface, operable by a single clinician
It would be nice to see some rugged prototypes emerging from this initial concept. We’ll keep you posted.
More from GE: GE Launches New Commitment to Accelerate Cancer Fight