Commercial Innovation of the Year Awards

The WMIS community chooses the winner of the Commercial Innovation of the Year Award each year following presentations from 4-6 finalists. Members of industry submit abstracts and semi-finalists are chosen by score to give a 3 minute presentation about their innovation at WMIC. Competition is fierce with abstracts scientifically reviewed by at least six unbiased reviewers. Based on their live presentation at WMIC, the audience is then given the opportunity to vote on the innovation of their choice.

2019 Commercial Innovation of the Year Award

Winner: Photon etc.

Presenter: Emilie Beaulieu Ouellet

“Real Time in vivo Imaging of ICG in the NIR II with the IR VIVO^TM Imaging System”
The 5th annual Commercial Innovation of the Year Award was presented to Photon etc. for their fluorescent imaging system IR VIVO^TM. Using near and shortwave infrared, IR VIVO benefits from reduced scattering as well as minimal tissue absorption and auto-fluorescence.
More information about the IR VIVO can be found on the Photon etc. website.

2018 Commercial Innovation of the Year Award

Winner: MILabs

Presenter: Frederik Beekman

“VECTor-6: Broadband Photon Tomography””
The 4th annual Commercial Innovation of the Year Award was presented to Netherlands-based molecular imaging company MILabs, for its latest innovation, VECTor-6 Broadband Photon Tomography, which takes the versatility of multi-modality preclinical imaging beyond the limits of PET-SPECT-CT and Optical Imaging. Frederick Beekman presented the work at WMIC and it was submitted by Ruud Ramakers.
More information about MILabs products can be found on the MILabs website.

2017 Commercial Innovation of the Year Award

Winner: SOFIE Biosciences

Presenter: Mohammed Farhoud

“GNEXT a Sub-millimeter Resolution and High Sensitivity PET/CT Scanner with DOI”
The 3rd Annual Commercial Innovation of the Year Award was presented to SOFIE Biosciences, for their work with GNEXT, a high sensitivity PET/CT scanner. Mohammed Farhoud presented the work at WMIC and it was submitted by Nam Vu.

SOFIE’s family of PET scanners are used by researchers investigating cancer, immune-oncology, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, as well as drug and probe discovery and development.
More information about SOFIE in vivo imaging products can be found on the SOFIE Bioscience’s website.

2016 Commercial Innovation of the Year Award

Winner: FUJIFILM VisualSonics, Inc.

Presenters: Andrew Needles and Andrew Heinmiller

“Clinical Ultra High Frequency System for Translational Imaging Studies”

The 2nd annual Commercial Innovation of the Year Award was presented to Andrew Needles and Andrew Heinmiller, FUJIFILM VisualSonics, Inc. for their work developing a new clinical ultra high frequency system for translational imaging studies.
More information about FUJIFILM VisualSonics, Inc. products can be found on the FUJIFILM VisualSonics website.

2015 Commercial Innovation of the Year Award

Winner: MILabs

Presenter: Frederik Beekman

“Targeted Photodestruction of Tumors Using Bioconjugates of Near-Infrared IRDye® 700DX”
The 1st Commercial Innovation of the Year Award was presented to Netherlands-based molecular imaging company MILabs, for their work developing G-SPECT, the unique clinical SPECT platform that allows for <3mm resolution, low-dose studies and imaging of fast tracer dynamics.

More information about MILabs products can be found on the MILabs website.