Boston-based AI medical technology company Elucid has announced significant additions to its clinical and commercial leadership team as it prepares to launch PlaqueIQ™, its FDA-cleared image analysis software for atherosclerosis assessment.
Strategic Leadership Appointments
Dr. Amir Ahmadi joins as chief scientific advisor to lead the company's clinical strategy. As a clinical associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Dr. Ahmadi brings extensive expertise in cardiac intensive care and multimodality imaging. His research focuses on using CT coronary angiography for early atherosclerosis detection and personalized treatment approaches.
The company has also welcomed several experienced executives to strengthen its commercial capabilities:
- Carol Holt as Vice President of Clinical Development, bringing over two decades of experience in clinical trial management and cardiovascular medicine
- Kevin Mathews as Senior Vice President of Marketing, contributing 25 years of medical device industry expertise
- Amy Pyke as Senior Vice President of Market Access, offering 30 years of experience in reimbursement strategy
Revolutionary Plaque Analysis Technology
PlaqueIQ represents a significant advancement in cardiovascular imaging technology. As the first FDA-cleared non-invasive software of its kind, it provides objective quantification and classification of plaque morphology based on histological ground truth. This capability enables physicians to:
- Accurately diagnose and stratify patients
- Develop patient-specific treatment pathways
- Potentially personalize cardiovascular disease treatments
Enhanced Medicare Coverage and Accessibility
A major boost to the technology's adoption came on January 1, 2025, when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a final rule doubling the reimbursement for cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA). This change significantly improves access to advanced cardiac imaging, particularly in non-urban areas.
Furthermore, five of seven Medicare Administrative Contractors now provide coverage for AI-enabled quantitative coronary plaque analysis, including PlaqueIQ. This expansion extends access to over 70% of eligible Medicare patients across the United States.
Clinical Impact and Future Direction
"With our outstanding clinical and commercial leaders in place, we can now accelerate progress towards our goal of a world where atherosclerosis can be routinely measured and treated on a patient-by-patient basis to prevent heart attack and stroke, ultimately saving lives," said Kelly Huang, CEO of Elucid.
The technology's potential impact is particularly significant given that atherosclerosis, characterized by arterial wall changes, remains a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. PlaqueIQ's ability to provide detailed plaque analysis could revolutionize how physicians approach cardiovascular disease management, enabling more precise and personalized treatment strategies.
