ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sept. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/
-- VirtualScopics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSCP), a leading
provider of clinical trial imaging solutions, announced today, they
are collaborating with a large pharmaceutical company providing
support for a new philanthropic, epidemiology study partnering with
the Ministry of Health in Africa.
VirtualScopics has teamed up with a cardiac sonographer to
acquire echocardiograms from children in Zambia. The image
results will be used to identify children with rheumatic heart
disease (RHD), which is extremely prevalent in Africa.
RHD, most commonly caused by rheumatic fever secondary to a
strep throat (streptococcal) infection, leads to damage of the
valves in the heart. The disease is most common in children and
young adults living in under-developed countries and is responsible
for about 233,000 deaths annually. Overcrowding, poor housing and
lack of access to adequate healthcare play a role in the spread of
the disease.
The current RHD study involves imaging up to 3,000 children in
50 Lusaka-based schools in Africa. Joseph Oliveri, a cardiac sonographer based in
Rochester, recently traveled to
Zambia, Africa on behalf of VirtualScopics to train
local staff on how to use a portable hand-held echocardiography
V-scanner and to assist in the initial screening efforts.
VirtualScopics will conduct a remote quality inspection of the
images as they are collected in the field and transmit the data to
Mr. Oliveri for analysis.
Regarding his efforts in the project, Mr. Oliveri stated "To be
honest, I was a little reluctant to go, but it was too good of an
experience to pass up. I am extremely glad that I went, this
was an amazing experience that I will never forget. I'm proud
to say that I was/am part of such a great study that will help many
Zambian children."
Eric Converse, Chief Executive
Officer, stated "This has been an exciting opportunity for
VirtualScopics to represent the ultimate goal of impacting
individuals affected by disease and disability. Through our
Scientific Advisory Board [SAB], we have been able to assist a
large pharmaceutical company with its efforts in Africa." Dr. Karl Schwarz, a member of the SAB facilitated
the collaboration between VirtualScopics and Mr. Oliveri. The SAB
was formed to provide a forum for key alliance scientists to work
with external experts to map current and future roles for imaging
in a number of disease categories.
Mr. Converse continued "This collaboration is a chance to
highlight the real human side of what we do and why many of us stay
in the world of clinical trials – we want to make a
difference."
For more information on VirtualScopics, Inc. and the SAB please
visit www.virtualscopics.com.
About VirtualScopics, Inc.
VirtualScopics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSCP) is a leading provider of
clinical trial imaging solutions to accelerate drug and medical
device development. For risk-averse, time-constrained
Clinical Trial Study Teams, Medical Directors and Imaging
Scientists who require quality imaging data delivered on-time,
within budget and on a consistent basis, VirtualScopics' clinical
trial imaging solutions are an inspired true exception to
commonly-accepted services provided by other clinical trial imaging
providers. Because of the scientific and operational
flexibility and responsiveness they can offer, VirtualScopics'
clinical trial imaging solutions deliver special performance
advantages compared to other image service providers that offer
common, everyday clinical trial imaging services.
Forward-looking Statements
The statements contained in this press release that are not
purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created
thereby. These forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, statements regarding the expected benefits of the
company's investment in infrastructure, sales and marketing
efforts, the increase in backlog, awards and bookings and the
performance of existing projects and/or statements preceded by,
followed by or that include the words "believes", "could",
"expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans",
"projects", "seeks", or similar expressions. Forward-looking
statements deal with the company's current plans, intentions,
beliefs and expectations. Investors are cautioned that all
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and
uncertainties are discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2014 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC"), and in any subsequent reports filed with the SEC, all of
which are available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
These include without limitation: the risk of cancellation or delay
of customer contracts or that contract awards do not turn into
signed contracts. Other risks include the company's
dependence on its largest customers and risk of contract
performance, protection of our intellectual property and the risks
of infringement on the intellectual property rights of
others. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the
date of this press release and the company undertakes no obligation
to update such forward-looking statements.
For More Information, Contact:
Donna N. Stein, APR, Fellow PRSA
Managing Partner
Donna Stein & Partners
315-361-4672
Email: dstein1@twcny.rr.com
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/virtualscopics-inc-collaborates-with-large-pharmaceutical-company-on-a-philanthropic-epidemiology-study-in-africa-300137639.html
SOURCE VirtualScopics, Inc.