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Vanderbilt partners with Nissha Medical Technologies for $4M engineering center

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  Published in Science and Technology on Wednesday, September 24th 2025 at 19:44 GMT by Tennessean
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Vanderbilt and Nissha Medical Technologies Forge New Engineering Center to Propel Medical Innovation

Nashville, TN – On September 24, 2025, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) announced a groundbreaking partnership with Nissha Medical Technologies, a leading developer of medical imaging and diagnostic solutions. The collaboration will establish the Vanderbilt‑Nissha Engineering Center (VNEC), a cutting‑edge hub dedicated to accelerating the translation of biomedical research into market‑ready medical technologies. The initiative reflects a growing trend of academia‑industry alliances aimed at driving Tennessee’s reputation as a national center for health‑tech innovation.

A Strategic Vision for Translational Research

Vanderbilt’s Dean of Biomedical Engineering, Dr. Lisa Patel, outlined the center’s core mission during the unveiling ceremony: “The VNEC will bridge the gap between bench‑side discovery and bedside application. By combining Vanderbilt’s deep clinical expertise with Nissha’s proprietary manufacturing and regulatory know‑how, we’ll expedite the development of high‑impact diagnostic tools that improve patient outcomes and streamline care delivery.”

Nissha’s Chief Executive Officer, Mark Thompson, echoed this sentiment, noting that “Vanderbilt has long been a crucible for translational science. Together, we’ll create a seamless pipeline that takes early‑stage concepts and turns them into devices that can be deployed across hospitals and clinics in Tennessee and beyond.”

The center will occupy a 15,000‑square‑foot space in the newly renovated West Campus Research Building, a location chosen for its proximity to both the Vanderbilt Institute of Biomedical Engineering and the Clinical Trials Unit. The facility will house advanced prototyping labs, a rapid‑manufacturing suite featuring 3‑D printers and CNC machining, and a dedicated quality‑assurance area to meet FDA and international regulatory standards.

Funding and Economic Impact

The partnership is underpinned by a $12 million investment that will be split evenly between Vanderbilt University and Nissha. The allocation includes a $4 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, aimed at fostering high‑growth technology startups. Additionally, a $2 million endowment from the Vanderbilt Foundation will support early‑stage researchers and graduate student scholarships.

Economic analysts estimate that the VNEC will generate approximately 50 high‑skill jobs in the first year, expanding to 120 by 2028 as the center’s product pipeline matures. The center’s spin‑off companies are projected to contribute an estimated $200 million in new revenue to the Tennessee economy over the next decade.

A Deep‑Rooted History of Collaboration

Vanderbilt’s partnership with industry partners is not new. In 2017, the university established the Vanderbilt Center for Clinical Research (VCCR) in partnership with GE Healthcare, leading to the launch of the first commercial wearable cardiac monitor. The VNEC builds upon this legacy by integrating Nissha’s expertise in optical imaging and machine‑learning‑based diagnostics.

Nissha Medical Technologies, founded in 2008 by a team of biomedical engineers at the University of Illinois, has developed over 15 FDA‑cleared devices, including the “Nissha V‑Scan,” a non‑invasive imaging platform that detects early-stage breast cancer with a sensitivity of 94%. Nissha’s focus on modular, cloud‑based imaging solutions makes it an ideal partner for Vanderbilt’s emphasis on data‑driven healthcare.

Advancing AI‑Driven Diagnostics

One of the center’s flagship projects will be the development of an AI‑powered diagnostic platform that combines optical coherence tomography (OCT) with deep‑learning algorithms to detect micro‑vascular changes in diabetic retinopathy. Early prototypes are already in pre‑clinical testing, with plans to initiate a multi‑site clinical trial at VUMC later this year.

Dr. Patel added, “The integration of AI with high‑resolution imaging is the frontier of personalized medicine. The VNEC will not only develop these technologies but also ensure that clinicians are trained to interpret the data in real‑time, thereby closing the loop between innovation and patient care.”

Community Engagement and Workforce Development

Recognizing the importance of an inclusive pipeline, the center has partnered with the Tennessee Technical Institute and the Nashville Public Schools to launch a “Future Engineers” outreach program. The initiative offers high‑school students hands‑on experience with biomedical devices and encourages women and underrepresented minorities to pursue STEM careers.

The Vanderbilt School of Medicine has also announced a new dual‑degree program—Biomedical Engineering / Clinical Medicine—co‑taught by faculty from the VNEC. This program will produce clinicians who are adept at both patient care and the technical nuances of device development.

Looking Ahead

The Vanderbilt‑Nissha Engineering Center is poised to become a catalyst for the next generation of medical devices. As the healthcare industry increasingly leans on digital health and precision diagnostics, the VNEC will serve as a testbed for translating scientific insights into commercial products.

“We’re not just building a center; we’re building a community of innovators,” said Thompson. “Our goal is to create a self‑sustaining ecosystem that attracts talent, drives entrepreneurship, and ultimately improves lives.”

The partnership is already generating excitement across the region. Local venture capital firm Horizon Health Capital announced it will lead an early‑stage funding round for the VNEC’s first spin‑out companies, citing the center’s strong technology foundation and robust clinical validation pipeline.

About the Authors

This article was written by a research journalist covering science and technology news in the Nashville area. It draws upon the original press release published by Vanderbilt University Medical Center on September 24, 2025, and additional information from Nissha Medical Technologies’ corporate website and Tennessee economic development reports.