WINFIELD, IL — April 30, 2026 — Northwestern Medicine is expanding access to highly specialized digestive health services with the opening of the new Center for Advanced Endoscopy at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, IL. Supported by a $15 million investment, the center offers some of the most advanced gastrointestinal (GI) procedures available in the United States, bringing world-class endoscopic care to patients across the Chicago region and beyond.

The Center for Advanced Endoscopy marks a key milestone in Northwestern Medicine’s broader effort to bring advanced, academically driven care closer to home for patients across the health system’s 11 hospitals.

“Combining the convenience of community‑based care with the expertise of a major academic medical center, this opening is a significant leap forward in our commitment to deliver complex care directly to the communities we serve,” said Ken Hedley, president of Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. “Local patients now have access to the most advanced endoscopic procedures right here in the western suburbs, without the added burden of traveling far from home.”

With an emphasis on innovation and cutting-edge research, the Center for Advanced Endoscopy is anchored by physicians who are leaders in their field, prominent researchers, and pioneers of endoscopic techniques used worldwide. As one of only a few stand-alone advanced endoscopy sites in the U.S., the center is expected to draw patients not only from the Chicago-area, but also individuals from around the globe seeking treatment for the most complex gastrointestinal conditions. 

“These physicians are some of the most recognized and respected interventional endoscopists in the world,” said Hedley. “They’re changing how and where this level of care is delivered and putting Central DuPage Hospital on the map as a leader for complex GI care, research and innovation.”

A Global Destination for Advanced Endoscopy

Led by Amrita Sethi, MD, an internationally renowned endoscopist and the center’s new medical director, the Center for Advanced Endoscopy features minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic options for complex GI, pancreatic, biliary, metabolic and early‑stage cancer conditions. Patients will benefit from clinical expertise and technologies that offer faster diagnosis, improved outcomes, reduced recovery times and often eliminate the need for surgery.

“Our vision is to make Central DuPage Hospital a destination for advanced GI care, not just for this region, but nationally and globally,” said Dr. Sethi, who is also medical director of innovation and training for the Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Institute. “We are bringing innovative therapies, minimally invasive diagnostics, clinical research, medical training and comprehensive patient support together under one roof.”

Spanning 20,000 square feet, the center features next‑generation technologies, including advanced imaging, flexible robotics, AI-enabled diagnostics and a planned hybrid OR with GI and interventional radiology (IR) capabilities. Patients will have consultations, diagnostics, treatments, and follow-up care all in the same location from a comprehensive team that includes physicians, nurses, technicians, advanced practice providers, nurse navigators and fellows. The center offers comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services for a wide range of gastrointestinal conditions, including:

• Complex pancreaticobiliary endoscopy
• Interventional endoscopic ultrasound
• Endoscopic antireflux therapies
• Endobariatric and metabolic endoscopy
• Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection (EMD) and third‑space endoscopy (all POEMs)
• Endoscopic therapy for Barrett’s esophagus and early esophageal cancer
• Advanced tissue resection and closure techniques
• Hybrid GI/IR/OR–supported proceduresStreamlined inpatient transfers for advanced therapeutic intervention

Bringing Advanced Care Closer to Home

The Center for Advanced Endoscopy builds upon Northwestern Medicine’s continued investment in digestive health. In 2023, the Digestive Health Institute launched a liver transplant service at Central DuPage Hospital, improving local access to advanced liver care and helping the health system achieve record transplant volumes.

“This investment underscores Northwestern Medicine’s commitment to bringing leading-edge, academically driven digestive care to more patients,” said Sri Komanduri, MD, globally recognized interventional endoscopist at the Center for Advanced Endoscopy and director of system integration for digestive health at Northwestern Medicine. “By combining top-tier talent, advanced technology, and a focus on innovation, Northwestern Medicine is setting the new standard for what GI care can look like in a community setting.” 

With both patient and referring physician experience prioritized, the new center is designed to reduce the need to travel long distances to access complex procedures that diagnose early cancers, remove tumors endoscopically, and treat conditions such as GERD, obesity, and pancreatic and biliary disorders. From the first phone call through recovery and follow‑up, dedicated nurse navigators guide patients through every step of their care journey, coordinating scheduling, providing timely updates, and communicating closely with referring physicians. The center also features direct physician‑to‑physician consultation pathways, enabling prompt review of imaging and pathology and ensuring seamless coordination so referring providers remain closely connected to their patients’ care.

“Patients should not have to choose between convenience and expertise and referring physicians should not have to sacrifice communication or continuity of care,” said Faisal Khan, MD, interventional gastroenterologist at the Center for Advanced Endoscopy. “At this center, patients receive academic‑level care close with rapid access when urgent issues arise, while referring providers benefit from direct collaboration and timely clinical updates. Our goal is to serve as an extension of the referring physician’s care team and deliver the highest level of care to their patients without the added burden and stress of traveling far from home.”

Innovation, Research and Training

In addition to state-of-the-art clinical care, the Center for Advanced Endoscopy also aims to advance the science of digestive health through clinical research and professional training. The facility will host national and international training programs, support clinical trials, and foster development of new techniques and technologies.

“Active research is essential to bringing the latest advances directly to our patients,” said Dr. Sethi. “By participating in and generating new science, our patients benefit from what’s available now and what’s coming next.”

Enhancing GI Care Across Northwestern Medicine

The decision to build the center at Central DuPage Hospital reflects both community need and the hospital’s strong foundation of multidisciplinary care. While located in the western suburbs, the center’s leaders say the opening strengthens Northwestern Medicine’s Digestive Health Institute by making the highest level of GI care available to more patients.

“The western suburbs need this level of care and Central DuPage Hospital is well-equipped to offer it thanks to the robust surgical, oncology, radiology and pathology support required to treat complex cases,” said Dr. Komanduri. “The center enhances access to advanced endoscopy for patients across our health system, including those in the International Health program. It ensures that no matter how they receive care through Northwestern Medicine, patients have streamlined access to the most advanced endoscopic treatments available.”

For more information about the Center for Advanced Endoscopy at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, visit www.nm.org/cae. To make an appointment, call 630-933-4448.

About the Digestive Health Institute at Northwestern Medicine 

The Digestive Health Institute at Northwestern Medicine provides comprehensive, specialized care for a full range of gastrointestinal conditions including advanced diagnostics, innovative treatments, and access to leading research and clinical trials. With multiple convenient locations, Northwestern Medicine delivers high‑quality digestive care close to home. The program is ranked among the top gastroenterology and GI surgery specialty centers in the country 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report.

“Building on the tremendous momentum of our first year, we could not be more excited to welcome this new group of exceptional founders,” said Brad Schnitzer, Managing Director of the Accelerator, Techstars. “Our inaugural class set an incredibly high bar, and we're excited to help this next wave of innovators over the next 13 weeks. We continue to be deeply impressed with the Northwestern Medicine team, whose hands-on support and commitment are invaluable to ensuring these startups succeed in the enterprise healthcare space.”

These early-stage companies are tackling some of the most critical challenges in healthcare today, ranging from digital therapeutics and clinical compliance to advanced proteomics. The three-month, mentorship-driven program will take place at Northwestern Medicine's Mansueto Innovation Institute, right in the heart of Chicago's dynamic healthcare ecosystem.

“We’re excited to welcome the 2026 cohort and continue advancing our mission to inspire the next generation of health care innovation,” said Doug King, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Northwestern Medicine. “Our inaugural program last year proved what’s possible when visionary entrepreneurs partner directly with our clinical teams. In the months ahead, we look forward to collaborating with these new founders as we explore emerging technologies and the meaningful, long-term impact they may have on patient care and the broader health care ecosystem.”

The selected startups for the 2026 class are:

• Arul Health - Boston, MA – A digital health platform built by survivors to elevate cancer survivorship care, providing personalized psycho-oncology therapy, virtual peer support, and integrative medicine guidance.

• ImmPro - Chicago, IL – A pioneer in top-down proteomics for biopharmaceutical development, providing comprehensive, single-particle analysis of proteins to characterize intact proteoforms and gene therapy vectors.

• Verbal - San Jose, CA – An AI-powered clinical compliance and quality assurance platform that ensures written clinical, safety, and billing protocols are followed at the point of care, saving staff hours of manual auditing.

• Slideflow Labs - Chicago, IL – An open-source, unified AI platform for digital pathology that empowers research and healthcare delivery by allowing teams to build, validate, and deploy digital biomarkers using local, low-cost hardware.

• Soihtu DTx - Helsinki, Finland – A digital therapeutics company redefining mental health treatment through immersive video games designed to treat major depressive episodes, offering an engaging alternative for patients resistant to conventional therapies.

Demo Day for the 2026 class will take place in early June 2026, where these startups will pitch to a community of mentors, investors, and healthcare industry leaders.

AI-enabled technologies are instrumental to improving healthcare. From detection and chronic disease management to treatment optimism, systems-wide change and expediting research, AI delivers far-reaching benefits across health systems. For example, in oncology over 40% of AI‑discovered drugs rely on AI‑assisted trial platforms in early‑stage development¹, while industry reports suggest that clinical AI could help prevent around 250,000 deaths globally by 2030.

The UK is well regarded as a global science and tech powerhouse, with London ranked one of the world’s best tech ecosystems³ and Founders Factory named as the country’s top startup hub⁴. The new accelerator will support UK and European founders as they deliver breakthrough technologies that address the most critical challenges in US healthcare.

A key element of this collaboration is the access to Northwestern Medicine, Chicago’s premier integrated academic healthcare system (11 hospitals, 5,400+ affiliated physicians, research facilities, and 200+ outpatient/diagnostic sites).  The health system is anchored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital. For 14 consecutive years, Northwestern Memorial has been named to the Best Hospital Honor Roll by U.S. News and World Report. The program will focus on helping the selected startups to test, deploy and scale their solutions with Northwestern Medicine and its ecosystem of partners, driving opportunity in the world’s largest healthcare market.

“Northwestern Medicine is committed to accelerating innovation that meaningfully improves patient care, advances research, and strengthens the way healthcare is delivered,” said Doug King, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Northwestern Medicine. “This collaboration with Founders Factory creates a powerful bridge between world‑class European talent and one of America’s leading academic health systems.”

Founders Factory, added, “By teaming up with Northwestern, one of America's top medical institutions, we are de-risking entry into the world’s biggest healthcare market for UK and European startups. There has never been a more exciting time for healthcare breakthroughs and technological efficiencies, and it is very exciting to be supporting the best of Europe with access to one of America’s most important healthcare providers. This program promotes cross-border collaboration that will ultimately drive patient outcomes in the US.”

The four-month program will be led by Founders Factory and will focus on helping founders to test, deploy and commercialize their solutions with both Northwestern Medicine and its ecosystem of healthcare partners, such as The London Clinic in the UK. The cohort will also be invited to a residential week with Northwestern Medicine in Chicago to collaborate with key clinical and commercial teams from across the health system.

Startups can apply now via Founders Factory’s website:(https://foundersfactory.com/).

Applications are now open and will close on March 31, 2026.

- ENDS -

Footnotes

1. “40% of AI‑discovered drugs rely on AI‑assisted trial platforms^1” https://www.drugdiscoverytrends.com/six-signs-ai-driven-drug-discovery-trends-pharma-industry/
2. “...properly deployed clinical AI could help prevent around 250,000 deaths globally by 2030” - https://southcarolina.himss.org/node/293195
3. “..with London ranked as third best startup ecosystem^”- https://www.wipo.int/gii-ranking/en/united-kingdom
4. “Founders Factory as top UK startup hub” - https://rankings.ft.com/incubator-accelerator-programmes-europe/regions/uk-and-ireland

About Founders Factory:

Founders Factory builds and funds startups together with exceptional entrepreneurs and the world's leading companies.

Created by IPO-exited founders and operating globally, including London, New York, Berlin, Milan, Perth and Singapore, Founders Factory offers founders capital, operational support and unrivalled access to a coalition of industry leading corporate partners.

Founders Factory invests in the world’s most promising pre-series A founders and helps them to commercialize through securing first pilots and supercharging go-to-market strategies. With a focus on health, deeptech, industrial transformation and fintech, Founders Factory has supported startups including Scan, Mae and Peptone to scale and disrupt markets, and has enabled over 500 enterprise pilots for its portfolio.

Since 2015, Founders Factory has built and funded 450+ technology companies.

About Northwestern Medicine

A leading U.S. based academic healthcare system, Northwestern Medicine offers patients access to world-class, compassionate care at 11 hospitals and more than 200 diagnostic and ambulatory sites throughout Chicago. The health system is anchored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital. For 14 consecutive years, Northwestern Memorial has been named to the Best Hospital Honor Roll by U.S. News and World Report. To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit NM.org.

CHICAGO, IL – February 11, 2026 – Chicago philanthropist Neil G. Bluhm and the Bluhm Family Foundation are underscoring their commitment to life-saving heart care with a $50 million gift to the Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute (BCVI). The gift builds on two decades of generosity from Bluhm, bringing his total gifts to BCVI to $135 million. The additional funds will expand access to cardiac care and bolster what is consistently ranked among the top 10 heart programs in the nation and among the top 20 cardiac surgery centers in the world. 

“My main goal has always been to ensure that anyone who needs world-class heart care can get it,” said Bluhm. “We made this possible 20 years ago in downtown Chicago and built on that when we expanded care into the suburbs. It has been one of my greatest honors to watch this program touch so many lives and I’m humbled to continue supporting this mission.”

World-class care for all

Since Bluhm’s initial gift to establish BCVI in 2005, the institute has treated hundreds of thousands of patients and saved countless lives across Chicago and beyond. Subsequent contributions helped advance health equity by extending top-tier care throughout the region, closer to where people live and work. Bluhm’s generosity has supported research, recruited physicians, and established programs like the Center for Artificial Intelligence and the Bluhm Heart Hospital at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

This latest $50 million gift will support the following initiatives:

• Further expand access to heart care by bringing new technologies and innovative therapies to Northwestern Medicine’s nine-hospital health network
• Increase the footprint of Bluhm Heart Hospital with more procedural space
• Support new research and clinical trials
• Develop breakthrough innovations for leading-edge advances in cardiovascular medicine
• Support fellowships to train the next generation of physician talent
• Recruit world-class physician leaders

“Generous contributions from the Bluhm Family have continuously fueled our commitment to saving lives and putting patients first,” said Howard Chrisman, MD, president and chief executive officer, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. “By investing in the future of cardiac medicine, BCVI will continue to stand as a beacon of hope for patients all over the world and for generations to come.”

Building on better medicine

Because of Bluhm’s philanthropy, BCVI has sustained explosive growth since its inception. The institute went from treating 1,000 patients in its inaugural year to more than 48,000 new patients in 2025. Today, the institute spans 18 locations throughout the greater Chicago area and employs 2,400 clinicians. A team of more than 186 specialized cardiologists, cardiac and vascular surgeons take on some of the toughest cases that other health systems are forced to turn away. To date, BCVI has achieved milestones such as:

• Ranked among the top 10 cardiology, heart and vascular programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for the last 10 years
• Among the top 20 hospitals in the world for cardiac surgery as ranked by Newsweek
• Seventh ranked patient-preferred hospital in the nation for heart care
• Among the top 15 hospitals in the nation for heart attack survival
• 900% cardiac surgery growth since 2005
• 96% patient satisfaction
• Treated patients from at least 40 countries and all 50 states
• 3,100 cardiac and vascular manuscripts published over the last three years
• $100 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health since 2020

“As we conclude the celebration of BCVI’s first 20 years, this extraordinary gift ensures we are not only honoring our past, but shaping the next 20 years of cardiovascular care,” said Patrick M. McCarthy, MD, executive director of Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. “This commitment keeps Northwestern Medicine at the forefront of cardiovascular medicine, empowering us to deliver superior outcomes for patients today and into the future.”

Thanks to Bluhm’s unwavering support, BCVI can continue making strides in the fight against heart disease by making care more accessible, supporting clinical talent, advancing infrastructure, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in cardiac medicine. 

For more information about cardiovascular treatments at Northwestern Medicine, visit nm.org/heart.

 On July 7, the Human Longevity Clinic will open to the public for the first time. The clinic draws upon groundbreaking research from the Potocsnak Longevity Institute at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine to provide personalized insights about your aging process and actionable changes to help you age better. 

 “We have tests that are not typically done in a routine clinic, they’re done in research studies,” said Baljash Cheema, MD, medical director of the Human Longevity Clinic. “We’re looking at things like arterial health, pulse wave velocity, and retinal imaging. Things that change before you manifest chronic diseases like high blood pressure, kidney disease, and coronary artery disease. You may be on the way to those things but not know about it, and that’s what we can help catch early.”

 Your visit

Patients will undergo a series of specialized tests to measure key biomarkers of aging.

• Neurocognition tests including cognitive, olfactory, and auditory assessments
• Heart and vascular tests
• Pulmonary function tests
• Musculoskeletal tests including body composition and strength, gait speed, and balance assessments
• Lab work including molecular clocks that can be used to measure your biological age directly
• Retinal imaging

After the initial visit, patients will meet with a longevity physician to discuss the results and recommended lifestyle changes. If any screening test suggests an underlying condition, the physician will recommend a referral to the appropriate Northwestern Medicine specialist. 

Patients will also consult with an exercise physiologist and a registered dietitian. They will gain access to mobile apps to track diet and exercise and communicate with their care team about their progress.

 Select tests will be repeated six months after the initial visit to see if the patient has been able to ‘bend the curve’ of aging. 

 “Through our research, we’ve had people use this as a wake-up call,” said Dr. Cheema, who is also a heart failure and heart transplantation specialist with the Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. “They knew their weight or cholesterol wasn’t perfect. Through these tests and recommended lifestyle changes, we’ve seen people come back feeling better, walking faster, developing more strength and endurance. We’re changing how their priorities stack up in terms of their health.”

 The research

Age is the leading risk factor for disease and disability. Researchers at the Potocsnak Longevity Institute have spent years studying populations that exhibit resistance to age-related decline. This includes a unique genetic variant in a Swiss Amish community in Adams County, Indiana. Douglas Vaughan, MD,director of the Potocsnak Longevity Institute, discovered people with this variant are protected from biological aging. Individuals were found to live 10 percent longer with preserved cardiovascular flexibility, protection from diabetes, and lower fasting insulin levels.

 Dr. Vaughan’s research team is particularly interested in learning how to slow aging in individuals that are disadvantaged due to chronic conditions or circumstances. This includes patients with chronic disease like Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which is a known accelerator of aging. By studying patients living with HIV, researchers hope to learn how factors can impact accelerating age in the general population and how to slow the process down.

 “For the first time in human history, we have the opportunity to shift the medical paradigm from reactive treatment of disease to proactive extension of healthspan. We are constantly refining our methods for measuring biological age in humans while we enroll and study people from all walks of life in Chicago. Beyond what we are doing here, we are moving quickly to install similar laboratories around the globe. We want to set up labs that are identical in terms of equipment, procedures, and protocols, and together, a network like this has the potential to identify interventions that can slow the trajectory of aging. These interventions may include drugs, lifestyle and dietary modifications, and supplements. We are dedicated to finding ways to slow aging that are safe, effective, scalable, evidence-based, and affordable,” said Dr. Vaughan, who is also a cardiologist with the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. 

Through clinical trials at the Human Longevity Lab, researchers are studying interventions that may alter the aging trajectory and improve human lifespan. Dr. Cheema serves as the lab’s director of Artificial Intelligence, where his team is developing AI-based tools to identify the markers of healthy aging.  

 To schedule an appointment at the Human Longevity Clinic, call 312.926.0878 or email humanlongevity@nm.org. For more information on healthy aging, visit longevity.nm.org. 

CHICAGO, IL – February 14, 2025 – Over the past two decades, the Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute (BCVI) has become a global destination for life-saving therapies, breakthrough procedures, and research that has transformed cardiovascular care. Founded on Valentine’s Day in 2005, BCVI was created with a generous gift from local philanthropist Neil G. Bluhm who wanted to help Northwestern Medicine meet the growing need for world-class cardiovascular care in Chicago and beyond. 

“I felt it would be important to the city that we have a great heart hospital instead of a situation where the wealthy were traveling elsewhere and everybody else was not getting great treatment,” said Bluhm. 

 After 20 years, with hundreds of thousands of patients treated and countless lives saved, Northwestern Medicine physicians, nurses, staff and patients will celebrate BCVI’s 20^thanniversary on February 14 during American Heart Month. 

 Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death, but breakthrough discoveries and new technologies are dramatically lowering that burden. To date, the BCVI team of more than 186 specialized cardiologists, cardiac and vascular surgeons have accomplished milestones such as:  

• Ranked among the top 10 cardiology, heart, and vascular programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for the last nine years
• Ranked among the top 20 hospitals in the world for cardiac surgery with over 900% growth in procedures since BCVI began
• Treated patients from at least 27 countries and all 50 states
• Seventh ranked patient-preferred hospital in the nation for heart care
• 95% patient satisfaction in 2024 
• Best heart failure survival in the nation
• Among the top 15 hospitals in the nation for heart attack survival
• First in the world to implant the Impella BTR heart pump
• Among the first in the nation to offer pulsed field ablation to treat atrial fibrillation  
• Secured $100 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health since 2020 
• Recruited more than 40 top-talent physicians over the last three years
• Home to three American Heart Association (AHA) Presidents
• A record six AHA Strategically Funded Research Networks totaling $25 million
• Home to three of the most highly cited scientific authors, top 1% in the world 

“This anniversary is a tremendous milestone for the Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute and underscores our commitment to our patients and the communities we serve,” said Howard Chrisman, MD, president and chief executive officer, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. “Our steadfast commitment to grow and expand access to world-class heart care throughout the Chicagoland area has been and will always be a driving force for Northwestern Medicine.”

A gift from the heart 

In the early 2000’s, Bluhm was treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for heart issues. On February 14, 2005, he generously donated a $10 million gift, and the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute was born. The gift facilitated the recruitment of renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Patrick M. McCarthy, MD, a world leader in cardiac surgery, with the goal of building a world-class heart and vascular program accessible to all Chicagoans. 

 Along with several other gifts over the years, in February 2022, Bluhm and the Bluhm Family Charitable Foundation announced a $45 million gift to establish the Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Heart Hospital at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The gift expands cardiac care capacity and addresses health equity by supporting under-resourced Chicago communities, including the soon-to-open Northwestern Medicine Bronzeville Outpatient Care Center. 

 “The transformation has been stunning. From a relatively small program we grew into a powerhouse with BCVI facilities across the region and growing every year. Mr. Bluhm’s generous gift allowed us to hire and train the best doctors and teams of care providers and rapidly adopt transformative new technologies and procedures,” said Dr. McCarthy, who is now the executive director of BCVI. 

Expanding care and saving more lives 

BCVI’s rapid growth can be attributed to its ability to recruit and train top-tier talent. Douglas Johnston, MD, surgical director of BCVI and chief of cardiac surgery, has been the force behind the recent meteoric rise of the cardiac surgery program. Since joining BCVI in 2022, Dr. Johnston has grown the program by a staggering 42%. BCVI performs about 2,750 cardiac surgeries per year, compared to 250 cases 20 years ago, and BCVI performs one of the highest volumes of surgical and transcatheter heart valve procedures in the country.

 “We’ve seen exceptional growth at our downtown campus and in our regional programs. Waiting for an appointment is one of the most frustrating things for a heart patient with a new diagnosis, and our goal is to decrease wait times and improve access for all patients,” said Dr. Johnston. 

 BCVI’s success has allowed the program to treat more patients and stimulate job growth in the Chicago area. In 2005, the institute had 300 employees and treated 1,000 new patients annually. Today, BCVI has 2,400 employees and treats 48,000 new patients each year.

 Anchored in downtown Chicago, BCVI has expanded across all Northwestern Medicine locations and is now integrated into nine Northwestern Medicine hospitals. This makes it possible for patients to receive most cardiovascular care in locations close to home, only traveling downtown for highly complex procedures. 

 “The landscape for heart failure treatment has transformed remarkably over the last two decades, offering patients more options and more hope than ever before. We have achieved the best heart failure survival rates in the U.S. for two consecutive years. This success is rooted in a highly integrated system of care, where patients receive state-of-the-art treatment close to home. We are now expanding this model across our network to ensure excellence in care for all our regional programs,” said Jane Wilcox, MD, associate chief of cardiology at BCVI.

 Taking the future to heart 

Through its partnership with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, BCVI researchers are pushing the boundaries of cardiovascular treatments through ongoing clinical trials. Their discoveries drive advancements that lead to better therapies, minimally invasive procedures, quicker recovery times, and improved patient outcomes. 

• BCVI helped introduce a non-surgical valve replacement procedure for the sickest patients with aortic stenosis. 
• BCVI helped accelerate FDA approval for new technology to replace a leaky tricuspid valve through a catheter. 
• Clinical investigators helped secure FDA approval for blockbuster medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Jardiance. 
• The BCVI Clinical Trials Unit has more than 10,000 research study participants enrolled in 100 ongoing clinical trials.
• 3,100 cardiac and vascular manuscripts published over the last three years.
• Twelve national principal investigators represented in clinical trials.

 “Every breakthrough or technological advance began with a question, often at the bedside. From that curiosity spawns research and via research discovery ensues. It is the steady arc of relentless research that fuels best patient outcomes and we in the BCVI are on the leading edge of scientific discovery,” said Clyde W. Yancy, MD, MSc, chief of cardiology at BCVI and vice dean of health equity at Feinberg School of Medicine.

 Leveraging their advancements over the past 20 years, BCVI leaders are making strides towards innovations that will improve patient lives for generations to come, including: 

• The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as machine learning to identify patients with advanced heart failure and patients at risk of developing atrial fibrillation and heart disease
• Combating a sonographer shortage by using an algorithm to automate measurements on echocardiograms
• Studying whether using a smartwatch to monitor atrial fibrillation could alleviate lifelong reliance on blood thinners 
• Engineering human heart tissue to better understand a range of cardiovascular conditions 

 “When we started this journey 20 years ago, the iPhone hadn’t been invented, and today we use artificial intelligence to read all electrocardiograms. Replacing heart valves without surgery was science fiction, and now it is everyday practice. Thanks to Mr. Bluhm, and the talented team we have built, the next 20 years should be just as transformative as the last 20 years,” said Dr. McCarthy.

 For more information on BCVI and cardiovascular treatments, visit NM.org/heart. 

Physicians who performed colonoscopies assisted by artificial intelligence achieved a 13 percent increase in the detection and removal of colorectal polyps, according to new research by Northwestern Medicine shared May 9 at the Digestive Diseases Week conference in Chicago. Gastroenterologists using the FDA-approved Medtronic GI Genius^TM computer-aided detection system removed more adenomas, the most common type of colorectal polyp, compared to when the system was not available or used.

Previous research has shown that each 1 percent increase in the adenoma detection rate was associated with a 3 percent decrease in the risk of cancer within five years of a colonoscopy.

“This means that computer-aided colonoscopies could reduce future colon cancer diagnoses by up to 39 percent,” said Rajesh Keswani, MD, MS, director of endoscopy for Northwestern Memorial Hospital and director of quality for the Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center. “The results could even be more dramatic in suburban or rural hospitals, where fewer screening colonoscopies are performed and there may be more variation in quality.”

Over the six-month study period, 21 gastroenterologists at Northwestern Memorial Hospital performed 4,820 colonoscopies. Nine of the physicians used the computer-aided detection software most of the time, and polyp removal rates significantly increased among the physicians who used the software compared to those who did not.

“We felt it was important to assess the use of AI in our group of already high-performing colonoscopists,” Dr. Keswani said. “Because of our commitment to high-quality colonoscopy, we were already doing better than the national guidelines recommended. But could AI make us even better? The answer is very clearly, ‘Yes.’”

By detecting and removing more polyps, physicians reduce the risk of colon cancer developing before a patient’s next colonoscopy.

“Most polyps do not become cancerous, but nearly all colorectal cancers begin as polyps,” said Dr. Keswani, who is part of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. “We want to detect them in their earliest stages and remove them to prevent future diagnoses of cancer. There’s nothing better than telling a patient that their decision to have a screening colonoscopy may have saved their life.”

Based in part on this research, Northwestern Medicine recently purchased GI Genius devices to equip every endoscopy suite in its nine acute-care hospitals and in four outpatient locations in the Chicago suburbs.

“Patients who come to any Northwestern Medicine location for colonoscopies will now have access to this technology, which is improving the way we predict, detect and diagnose colon cancer,” said John Pandolfino, MD, chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at Northwestern Medicine. “This investment shows we’re committed to using and developing artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve the way we care for patients.”

Dr. Pandolfino leads the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Mathematics in Gastroenterology, a first-of-its kind program that was developed in collaboration with engineers at the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University.

“Our team is constantly developing new ways to be more accurate and efficient in the care we provide,” Dr. Pandolfino said. “It’s incredibly gratifying to know this technology will be available to patients in every Northwestern Medicine location where colonoscopies are performed.”