After two years in which the cardiology innovation conference was held in a hybrid format, with strong Israeli representation and virtual participation from physicians and scientists abroad, the ICI Conference returns, marking thirty years since its establishment, in full scale and full momentum, signaling the continued rise of Israeli global innovation.
The past year, despite the war and global challenges, has been remarkably positive in the field of cardiology, highlighted by significant exits: InnoValve, now in clinical trials in the United States for a catheter-based aortic valve replacement, was acquired by the American company Edwards; V-WAVE, which treats heart failure by creating a pressure-relieving shunt between the atria, was acquired by Johnson & Johnson; Vectorious, which remotely monitors left-atrial pressures, was also acquired by Edwards. Many additional companies are advancing in the global race for cardiovascular medical technologies. Recently, we were also informed of the establishment of several major medical-sector investment funds that will continue to provide the essential—and long-lacking—financing needed for start-ups at various stages.
The ICI Conference is well known worldwide as a forum that places medical innovation at center stage, blending physicians, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and investors in a world shaped by regulation and competition. This year, however, we are also witnessing a notable surge in artificial intelligence and digital-health technologies. The range of topics to be discussed is wide and diverse, and in nearly all of them, the level of innovation is striking. The treatment of coronary artery stenosis using stents has become routine, yet our ability to treat complex lesions, complete occlusions, and heavy calcification has advanced through new methods of plaque-crushing within the artery, precise intravascular imaging, and AI-driven computational tools that guide clinical decision-making. Diagnosis has also grown more accurate thanks to improved virtual-catheterization technologies capable of correcting distortions caused by extensive arterial calcification.
Beyond arterial innovations, we are witnessing a revolution in valve therapies and structural heart medicine. Solutions for the mitral and tricuspid valves are progressing rapidly, while catheter-based aortic valve replacement has become standard practice. Heart failure remains one of the most challenging conditions, and new technologies for remote monitoring will be presented at the conference alongside additional advanced treatments. Stroke interventions, catheter-based treatments for cerebral aneurysms, and clot-removal procedures in the brain and lungs are likewise emerging as technologies that are becoming standard in hospitals.
The De-Haan Prize for a groundbreaking innovative company, in the amount of $200,000, will also be awarded this year to the leading contender. Among the competitors are new ultrasound-based technologies for treating hypertension, AI-enhanced imaging tools enabling broader and more accurate use of ultrasound diagnostics, neuromodulation treatments for atrial fibrillation, a novel lymphatic-drainage therapy for heart failure, and more. Dozens of companies from Israel and around the world are vying for this prestigious award.
Over the years, the ICI Conference has served as the driving engine encouraging physicians and entrepreneurs to think differently, the catalyst accelerating interactions between international corporations and Israeli innovators, and the integrator connecting medicine, entrepreneurship, academia, and industry. The results can be seen around the globe. We expect a conference attended by thousands of participants, including hundreds from abroad. Israel will continue to lead the world in breakthrough medical innovation.