Kent Imaging and SerenaGroup® Research Foundation awarded prestigious AICE grant
September 22, 2020. Kent Imaging and SerenaGroup® Research Foundation, have received the prestigious Accelerating Innovations into Care (AICE) - Market Access grant from Alberta Innovates, a research and innovation agency sponsored by the province of Alberta, Canada. AICE supports companies in commercializing innovative digital health technologies. The award will fund clinical trials investigating the novel diagnostic technology developed by Kent Imaging utilizing near infrared spectroscopy (SnapshotNIR). Kent has partnered with SerenaGroup® Research Foundation to conduct this pivotal research.
Near infrared spectroscopy measures oxygen levels in tissue in real time without the need for injected dyes or invasive probes. SnapshotNIR captures the image without patient contact. The colors displayed on the screen correspond to the degree of tissue oxygenation: blue represents low oxygen levels and red represents high. At present, advanced wound and hyperbaric centers use transcutaneous oxygen (TCOM) to measure oxygenation; however, TCOM has numerous drawbacks: the results are operator dependent, it requires heated leads that are attached to the skin and the procedure takes an hour to complete.
The AICE grant will fund a multicenter head-to-head clinical trial comparing SnapshotNIR to TCOM. In addition, correlation between the SnapshotNIR readings and healing outcomes will allow the investigators to predict the best interventions for patients with diminished oxygenation. “Health innovators often face headwinds in generating the evidence necessary for implementing new solutions. The data generated in this trial will accelerate the path to impact for SnapshotNIR, and is fully aligned with our digital health strategy,” shared Tim Murphy, VP Health at Alberta Innovates.
“This new technology from Kent Imaging will allow clinicians to rapidly assess tissue oxygenation in patients with chronic wounds, which will avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment,” said Dr. Tomas Serena, Director of the SerenaGroup® Research Foundation. “I believe that SnapshotNIR will play a key role in limb preservation in our diabetic patients, allowing woundologists to identify the patients who will benefit from advanced modalities such as for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.”
“We are very excited to be working with Dr. Tomas Serena and the SerenaGroup® Research Foundation to establish definitively the value of SnapshotNIR in the prediction of wound healing. Kent Imaging’s goal is to provide innovative technology that helps physicians to heal wounds, improve outcomes and significantly reduce amputations. This study will take us a long way towards meeting this goal,” said Pierre Lemire, CEO at Kent Imaging. “We also want to acknowledge the ongoing support of the Alberta Government in bringing this paradigm changing technology to market.”
About Kent Imaging
Kent Imaging Inc., a Canadian company located in Calgary, Alberta, and leading innovator in oxygenation imaging, designs and manufactures imaging technology that employs near infrared spectroscopy to measure tissue oxygen saturation. The oxygenation information provides immediate insight into tissue viability supporting real-time decision making in wound care, vascular and surgical specialties to aid in the delivery of positive patient outcomes throughout the care continuum. For more information about Kent Imaging, visit www.kentimaging.com.
About SerenaGroup® Research Foundation
The SerenaGroup® Research Foundation, a leader in wound healing research, conducts eight to nine clinical trials each year and publishes a dozen manuscripts annually. Dr. Serena has been the lead or Principal Investigator in over 100 clinical trials, including gene therapy, dressings, growth factors, topical and parenteral antibiotics, and CTP therapy. His team has led the development of diagnostic imaging and biomarkers in the field of wound healing.
About Alberta Innovates
Alberta Innovates invests in research, innovation and entrepreneurship to drive provincial economic growth and diversity. We ignite the power of innovation through our work with researchers, industry and entrepreneurs to move Alberta to a lower-carbon future, enhance the responsible use of land and water, and contribute to the improved health and well-being of Albertans.