Over the past two years, Northwestern Medicine has played a key role in supporting Vizlitics’ AI-powered solutions by contributing oncology expertise, real-world clinical insights, and a pilot environment. Vizlitics led the design and development of the products, translating clinical needs into scalable tools that integrate into existing clinical and research workflows.

As a result of the collaboration and support from National Institute of Health (NIH) SBIR Phase II contract, Northwestern Medicine has activated Vizlitics’ Clinical Trial and Real World Data products, marking a key milestone in efforts to improve trial matching, streamline research operations, and expand access to clinical trials for patients with cancer.

“Clinical trial participation remains one of the most challenging areas in oncology, driven in large part by fragmented data systems and manual workflows,” said Deva Mahalingam, MD, PhD, Associate Director of Clinical Research, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern Medicine. “Through our collaboration with Vizlitics, we were able to apply real-world oncology expertise directly into product development and deployment within a live clinical environment. Implementing this technology enables earlier identification of eligible patients, reduces operational burden on research teams, expands access to clinical trials, and helps generate research-grade structured clinical data at scale.”

Vizlitics’ platform uses artificial intelligence to curate longitudinal patient data, extract structured clinical information from unstructured records including faxes and media files, and automatically pre-screen patients for clinical trial eligibility. The tools are designed to support clinical research teams while fitting seamlessly into existing health system workflows by screening >95% of the patients prior to their upcoming consultation. Structured patient data extracted for pre-screening and research spans patients screening, diagnosis, treatments, comorbidities and outcomes across complete patient’s care journey.

"Our collaboration with Northwestern Medicine shows how health systems and Digital Health AI companies can co-create solutions faster together, using a confluence of clinical data, workflow automation, and responsible AI to address the challenges that clinicians and researchers face every day," said Tarun Kumar, co-founder and CEO of Vizlitics. "Northwestern Medicine's oncology expertise, clinician feedback, and rigorous pilot environment helped us build two clinically validated solutions with measurable impact - accelerating patient-to-trial matching, reducing manual screening burden, and turning unstructured clinical records into structured, research-ready insights at scale. We're excited to see both products activated and to keep working together to make clinical trials more accessible and research operations more efficient."

Northwestern Medicine and Vizlitics plan to continue collaborating as the technology is deployed at scale, with a shared focus on improving cancer research efficiency, clinician experience, and patient access to cutting-edge therapies.

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.

DEKALB, IL — September 18, 2025 — Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital recently celebrated its 2,000^th successful robotic-assisted surgery, a milestone made possible by the completion of a $15 million renovation of its surgery suite late last year. Among the upgrades was the addition of a second surgical robot expanding access to minimally invasive robotic surgeries.

Robotic-assisted surgery enables a gentler, more precise approach, helping patients heal faster and return to their daily routines with minimal downtime.

“Our goal in expanding our surgical capabilities with this technology was to help as many of our patients as possible get through surgery with smaller incisions and greater precision,” said Nitzet Velez, MD, general surgery at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital. “Reaching this milestone is a proud moment for our surgeons and staff, knowing our investment is paying off for the people we care for.” 

Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital first introduced the da Vinci Xi Surgical System in its operating room in 2022. Today, the hospital proudly works with two state-of-the-art robotic surgical systems, allowing for more than half of all surgeries to be performed robotically. The robotic technology can support prostate, kidney, bladder, and gynecological operations, as well as general surgery procedures like hernia repairs and bowel resections.

“The completion of our surgical renovation and the addition of a second robotic surgery platform mark a significant milestone for our hospital and reflects our unwavering commitment to expanding access to world-class surgical care,” said Maura O’Toole, president of Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital. “This investment ensures our patients can receive the highest levels of advanced, minimally invasive procedures, close to home.”

Over the past year, Kishwaukee’s surgical team performed 809 robotic surgeries — a 20% increase compared to previous years. With expanded operating room capabilities, the hospital also offers minimally invasive procedures for surgeries that once required traditional “open” methods. Thanks to the addition of a second robot, patients in the DeKalb area can now access advanced, less invasive options for general surgeries including gallbladder removal, adrenal gland removal and appendix removal — all closer to home.

"In the lead-up to my surgery, more than anything I wanted to be back on my feet as fast as possible so I could enjoy my summer,” said Amy McCarney, a patient of Dr. Velez who underwent a reversal of an emergency colostomy with robotic assist this past April. “Having had previous serious surgeries, I was worried about things like pain management and infection risk, but they were not a problem at all for me with this procedure. It’s incredible the difference using the robotics made. I had a great summer.” 

To operate using the robotic devices, surgeons sit at a nearby console to view 3D images of the surgical site and control the arms of the robotic instruments inside the body. The device’s tiny robotic arms and magnifying lenses allow surgeons to make incisions and maneuvers with unprecedented accuracy, typically resulting in better outcomes and quicker recovery times for patients. 

The da Vinci Xi Surgical System is available at locations across the Northwestern Medicine system, including at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Grayslake Outpatient Center. For more information on robotic surgery at Northwestern Medicine, visit: https://www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/surgical-services/robotic-surgery-services. 

To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit https://news.nm.org/.

CHICAGO - Northwestern Medicine, Chicago’s premier integrated academic health system, and Vitestro, a pioneer in autonomous robotic vascular access and diagnostic blood collection, today announced a multi-year collaboration to advance automation in phlebotomy and transform the patient experience.

As part of this collaboration, Northwestern Medicine will participate in a multicenter clinical trial validating the performance and safety of Vitestro’s Aletta™—the world’s first Autonomous Robotic Phlebotomy Device™ (ARPD™). The goal of the study is to generate key clinical evidence to support adoption of automated phlebotomy as a scalable solution for U.S. hospital and outpatient blood draw centers.

“At Northwestern Medicine, we are dedicated to pioneering innovations that elevate patient care and operational excellence,” said Gary A. Noskin, MD, senior vice president, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, and president, Northwestern Medical Group. “Our collaboration with Vitestro is a step forward in transforming diagnostic testing by automating venous blood collection. Through this relationship our goal is to improve efficiency, enhance sample integrity, and redefine the patient experience through cutting-edge technology.”

By automating and standardizing blood collection, this collaboration aims to:

• Address critical phlebotomy workforce shortages by providing a scalable, automated solution.
• Enhance operational efficiency and patient throughput in high-volume hospital outpatient settings.
• Improve sample quality and integrity, reducing errors associated with manual venipuncture.
• Expand access to high-quality blood collection while enhancing patient comfort and overall care.

“We are privileged to collaborate with Northwestern Medicine in setting a new standard for laboratory automation,” said Brian Joseph, Co-founder of Vitestro. “Vitestro’s mission is to empower hospitals and laboratories with transformative robotic solutions that drive efficiency, improve clinical outcomes, and elevate the patient experience. This collaboration will further validate the role of automation in modernizing blood collection.”

As Chicago’s premier integrated academic health system, Northwestern Medicine offers patients access to world class, compassionate care at 11 hospitals and more than 200 diagnostic and ambulatory sites.

“Phlebotomy remains one of the last manual processes in laboratory medicine, and automation presents a pivotal opportunity to transform it,” said Gregory S. Retzinger, MD, PhD, Medical Director of Pathology Clinical Services, Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “This collaboration goes beyond evaluating autonomous robotic phlebotomy — it has the potential to solve urgent staffing challenges and redefining the future of laboratory medicine.

“We are proud to partner with Northwestern Medicine’s visionary leadership, who recognize the future in phlebotomy automation,” said Bob Gerberich, CCO of North America at Vitestro. “Their commitment, along with the work of our other U.S. clinical trial partners, will be instrumental in establishing a new standard in total laboratory workflow automation. This collaboration marks a defining moment in making autonomous blood collection an integral part of modern healthcare.”

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. 

GENEVA, IL — October 21, 2024 —  Northwestern Medicine is teaming up with Lombard-based Valqari to test drone deliveries on the campus of Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital. The pilot-project is the first step in determining the feasibility of using drone technology for safe and efficient deliveries of specimens and medical supplies. Northwestern Medicine Delnor is among the first hospitals in the United States to trial drones for inter-site deliveries.

Lab testing capabilities vary across Northwestern Medicine’s campuses and often require blood samples to be sent to different lab locations. These deliveries affect turnaround time for results and can delay care.

“Traditionally, this type of delivery has been done through hired courier services or clinicians walking the specimens across the campus on a set schedule,” said Sylvester Dazzo, vice president of administration at Northwestern Medicine. “If proven feasible, drone delivery has the potential to create an on-demand option that doesn’t require staff to walk across campus, keeping our caregivers doing what they do best – providing world-class patient care.”   

The drones currently fly between Delnor Hospital’s south entrance and the cancer center across the street from two drone stations. It flies over the grass lawn and walkways and crosses the street and sidewalks when no people or cars are nearby. While the drone flies entirely on its own, a pilot is nearby to supervise the drone flight.

"We have a significant number of patients who require same-day blood product transfusions who have benefited from the service the drone is providing,” said Megha Shah, RN, oncology infusion charge nurse at the Delnor Cancer Center.  “It allows us to obtain our blood products outside our scheduled courier times - significantly reducing wait times for patients.”

Operations of the drone are overseen by Valqari, a recognized leader in drone deliveries headquartered just down the street from Delnor’s Geneva campus. Every morning before drone flights commence, Valqari’s team secures Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to fly for the day. No patient information is visible to the flight team at any point during the delivery process. The drones are not equipped with cameras.

“When ready for transport, hospital staff makes an on-demand delivery request with Valqari’s app notifying the flight team of an inbound package,” explained Ryan Walsh, CEO and founder of Valqari. “The package is placed in a designated locker on the nearest Valqari DronePort and is then loaded onto an elevator that attaches the package to the drone. The drone ensures the airspace is clear before taking off then flies to the designated landing station to drop it off. An FAA-certified Part 107 pilot is within line of sight that can take over the controls at all times to ensure we are always meeting the current FAA requirements."

Without drones, most deliveries on the Delnor campus are made during four scheduled courier trips each day. For an on-demand delivery, staff walk the items out of the building and across the street something that occurs 40+ times per month.

"Prior to the drones, nursing staff walked back and forth between the cancer center and hospital sometimes several times per day,” said Kristen Goldsmith, RN, oncology infusion nurse at the Delnor Cancer Center. “Having the drones make deliveries helps because it keeps me at the chairside with my patients. In the cancer center, treatment decisions are based on bloodwork, so with this on-demand option, we are able to expedite care, and the quicker turnaround time takes some stress off our patients who are anxiously awaiting their results."

Current FAA guidelines require drones to operate within a line of sight, have 20 ft radius of open space around it, and to remain on the Delnor campus. Drones cannot operate within the city of Chicago or within five miles of an airport. However, drone regulations are expected to expand in 2025 opening the opportunity to further the use of drone deliveries to other sites in the Northwestern Medicine Health Network.

“If this project continues to validate drones as a safe and quick delivery option, we’ll explore where else in the health system drones may be beneficial,” said Dazzo. “We are particularly interested in how drones can potentially improve treatment times at our rural locations by providing a fast, efficient delivery option where one doesn’t currently exist.”

For Valqari, partnerships like the one with Northwestern Medicine present an opportunity to develop and refine solutions that drive innovation and efficiency in the field of drone deliveries.

"We are grateful to be able to work towards our company mission, which is to use our technology to improve people's lives,” said Walsh. “Getting the opportunity to do that alongside such an amazing company as Northwestern Medicine to be able to improve patient treatment times is a big step in our mission. Our collective efforts are instrumental in shaping the future of drone delivery, ensuring that this transformative technology evolves to meet the demands of a dynamic landscape.”

Northwestern Medicine is committed to rapidly finding, evaluating and activating internal and external innovative solutions for challenges affecting patients and care teams today and to optimize future care delivery. The Northwestern Medicine Mansueto Innovation Institute connects innovators and collaborators to an extensive network of leaders with expertise in medicine, innovation, data, business and more within Northwestern Medicine and across the healthcare industry. To learn more, visit the Mansueto Innovation Institute website.

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.”

Chicago- If you can’t tell from the heart eyes, Moxi the robot is loving its new job at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. 

Since December, Moxi has helped hospital teams fetch supplies, deliver lab samples and pick up medicines from the pharmacy. Staff can load items—including valentines—into Moxi’s secure compartments, and then the robot is off for delivery.

So far, Moxi has run over 800 errands, saving the hospital’s pharmacy and laboratory teams more than 400,000 steps.

“I’ve definitely noticed that our technicians have had more time to be in the central pharmacy and work on their skills in the cleanrooms,” says Kenneth Konkol, pharmacy technician at Northwestern Memorial. “Moxi is out there doing deliveries instead of them having to walk around the hospital.”

Moxi uses sensors and machine learning technology to map out the hospital floor. Its extendable arm allows it to navigate multiple types of doors and even the elevator. 

Manisha Patel, program director of laboratory services at Northwestern Medicine, says Moxi not only improves her team’s efficiency, it boosts morale: “Moxi brings a sight of refreshment…so that they can see their voice is being heard, their issues are being addressed, and we’re looking at it from a more innovative perspective.”

 While Moxi doesn’t directly interact with patients, the robot still makes a difference in their care.

 “Moxi has done a wonderful job of delivering our chemotherapy and immunotherapy in a speedier route than previously with humans walking it over,” says Kyle Babick, RN, clinical operations coordinator at Northwestern Memorial. “So, it has made a great impact not only for nurses, but also for our patients.” 

Northwestern Memorial currently has a fleet of four Moxi robots, which is part of an initiative from the Northwestern Medicine Mansueto Innovation Institute to bring clinical automation and robotics to the health system.

For more information on the Northwestern Medicine Mansueto Innovation Institute, visit nm.org.