Israel’s Sheba Medical Center unveils two major initiatives set to bolster regional and global medtech ecosystems

Picture: Prof. Eyal Zimlichman, Director of ARC and Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer at Sheba, speaking at the ARC Summit 2024. (Sheba Medical Center)

Partnership with Paradigm Health Inc. aims to revolutionize clinical trials, while new launchpad focuses on early-stage medtech startups

Highlighting Israel’s continued leadership in healthtech innovation, Sheba Medical Center’s ARC Innovation Center announced two major developments on Thursday during the 2024 ARC Summit, held at Tel Aviv’s David Intercontinental hotel. The hospital, already a global leader in medical research, introduced a groundbreaking partnership with Paradigm Health Inc. to revolutionize clinical trials, and announced the launch of embARC Ventures, a startup launchpad aimed at boosting medtech innovation. Just this week, Sheba made into the Newsweek prestigious top ten hospitals list.

The partnership with Paradigm Health Inc. aims to overhaul the way clinical trials are conducted globally by leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline operations, reduce costs, and accelerate the development of new therapies.

The collaboration, unveiled during a signing ceremony the summit, will utilize AI-driven platforms to optimize processes such as patient recruitment, site selection, and real-time trial management. By expanding access to clinical trials, particularly for patients with cancer and other serious illnesses, the initiative hopes to deliver life-saving treatments more efficiently.

“Sheba Medical Center has long been at the forefront of clinical research, and this collaboration allows us to standardize and optimize the clinical trial process on a global scale,” said Professor Eyal Zimlichman, Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer at Sheba and Director of ARC. “With Paradigm’s cutting-edge platform, we can bring life-saving treatments to patients faster than ever before.”

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Kent Thoelke, CEO of Paradigm Health Inc., said the collaboration had transformative potential for healthcare systems, calling it “a pivotal step toward reshaping the future of clinical trials.”

“By using AI to manage trials more efficiently and reduce the burden on healthcare systems, we’re accelerating medical breakthroughs that will save lives. Together, we’re setting a new standard for the industry,” Thoelke said.

The second major announcement centred on the launch of embARC Ventures, a new launchpad for healthtech startups. EmbARC, created in partnership with Ilex Medical, promises to invest $250,000 in selected early-stage companies, offering comprehensive support and access to Sheba’s vast international partner network.

“EmbARC represents a new model for nurturing bold entrepreneurs in healthtech, giving them access to Sheba’s resources and ensuring their innovations reach the market more quickly,” said Dan Shwarzman, the newly appointed CEO of embARC Ventures.

Avner Halperin, Deputy Director of ARC and CEO of Sheba Impact, highlighted the critical role of embARC Ventures in strengthening Israel’s medtech ecosystem. The programme aims to help Israeli and global medtech startups navigate the high-risk stages of development and gain traction in international markets.

“Through embARC, we are investing not only in startups but in the future of healthcare. By providing seed funding, mentorship, and global market access, we are ensuring that the next generation of Israeli medtech innovations will have the support they need to succeed globally,” Halperin said.

The ARC Summit 2024, which drew top executives, clinicians, investors, and entrepreneurs, served as a hub of innovative partnerships and cutting-edge technologies. This year’s event underscored ARC and Sheba’s role in shaping the future of medical innovation, reflecting its commitment to advancing healthcare through strategic collaborations and new initiatives.

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