Segmed, a prominent provider of real-world medical data, has announced a strategic partnership with the precision health AI company, Verily. This collaboration will integrate Segmed's extensive library of de-identified medical imaging into Verily's advanced AI research platform. The initiative is designed to equip researchers with powerful new tools, aiming to accelerate breakthroughs in precision medicine and AI development.
A Strategic Alliance to Accelerate Research
Through this alliance, Segmed's diagnostic-grade imaging and associated clinical data will become accessible within Verily's secure Pre Exchange and Workbench environment. This integration is intended to democratize access to vital information for investigators across academia, life sciences, and healthcare AI. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to fostering rigorous, privacy-first research by lowering traditional barriers to data acquisition.
David Gascoigne, CEO of Segmed, emphasized the critical role that advanced imaging data plays when combined with other biomedical information in precision medicine. He stated that by joining forces with Verily, the company is expanding responsible access to high-quality, de-identified datasets. This will ultimately help researchers generate insights more rapidly to speed up the development of new diagnostics and therapies.
Initial Focus on Breast Cancer and Future Potential
The collaboration's initial offering will feature a curated dataset focused on breast cancer research, a critical area of medical need. This dataset includes a longitudinal cohort of patients who have undergone digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) exams and have biopsy-proven malignant lesions. Providing such specific, high-quality data enables researchers to immediately begin work on targeted and impactful projects within oncology.
This initial dataset represents just a fraction of Segmed's comprehensive global imaging platform, which holds approximately 150 million de-identified exams. The broader repository spans numerous modalities, including CT, MRI, X-ray, ultrasound, and mammography, among others. This vast and diverse data source signals significant potential for future research initiatives across a wide spectrum of medical disciplines.
Empowering AI-Powered Precision Health
Verily's Chief Revenue Officer, Bharat Rajagopal, described the partnership as a major step forward in advancing AI-powered precision health. He noted that integrating Segmed's curated real-world data empowers researchers with the comprehensive resources needed to unlock novel insights. This access is fundamental to accelerating the entire discovery process, from initial hypothesis to potential clinical application.
This joint effort reflects a broader trend toward supporting patient-centered, data-driven innovation in the healthcare sector. Both companies are focused on enabling secure, scalable access to real-world imaging and clinical data within trusted research environments. The partnership is another milestone in Segmed's mission to facilitate safer, faster, and more equitable healthcare advancements through data.
The partnership between Segmed and Verily represents a significant advancement in the mission to harness real-world data for medical innovation. By combining Segmed's rich imaging datasets with Verily's powerful AI platform, the collaboration is poised to remove critical roadblocks for researchers. Ultimately, this initiative is expected to catalyze progress in developing next-generation diagnostics and personalized therapies, shaping the future of precision health.