[March 12, 2014]

Spectacular Images Showing Research into Cancer, Neurodegenerative Disease and Fertility Win GE Healthcare 2013 Cell Imaging Competition

GE Healthcare Life Sciences (NYSE:GE) today announced Vanessa Auld from Canada, Martin Barr from Ireland and Graham Wright from Singapore as the winners of the GE Healthcare 2013 Cell Imaging Competition. With over 23,000 votes cast by the public, the winners can now look forward to seeing their prize-winning images lighting up Times Square, New York at a special event between 25-27 April 2014.

Martin Barr, St James's Hospital and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. Image description: Lung adenocarcinoma cell stained for F-actin (green), mitochondria (red) and DNA (blue). Therapeutic focus: Cancer. (Photo: Business Wire)

For seven years, GE Healthcare's annual competition has showcased the beauty of cells and the inspiring research of cellular biologists from around the world. This year's competition attracted over 100 entries from scientists who are using either high-content analysis or high- and super resolution microscopy to investigate at the cellular level a wide variety of diseases such as cancer, muscle disease and the effects of parasitic infections.

An expert scientific panel of six judges* shortlisted the finalists for each category ahead of the public vote. The full details of the three winners are:

1st place - Microscopycategory

Vanessa Auld, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Therapeutic focus: Neurodegenerative disease.

1st place - High-Content Analysis category

Martin Barr, St James's Hospital and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

Therapeutic focus: Cancer.

Regional winner (Microscopy category)

Graham Wright, Institute of Medical Biology, A*STAR (News - Alert), Singapore

Therapeutic focus: Fertility.

Eric Roman, General Manager of Research and Applied Markets, GE Healthcare Life Sciences, said:

"This year's three winning images are once again incredibly beautiful and compelling, reminding us of the cellular complexity behind disease and why the study of cells is so important. We were delighted to receive so many outstanding entries to the competition, which highlights how cell imaging is helping scientists explore the universe of the cell and is advancing our understanding of so many life-threatening and life-limiting diseases. I'd like to thank all the contestants for sending us their images, the judging panel and everyone who cast a vote."

The winning images and gallery of all the finalists' entries to the 2013 Cell Imaging Competition are available at www.gelifesciences.com/cellimagecompetition

*This year's shortlist was selected by Paul Goodwin, Science Director, Cellular Imaging and Analysis at GE Healthcare; Geoffrey Grandjean, Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute, California and 2011 competition winner for the Americas; Julian P. Heath, Editor of Microscopy & Analysis; Carmen Laethem, Scientist and Project Manager, Aerie Pharmaceuticals; Kristie Nybo, Assistant Editor, BioTechniques and Nick Thomas, Principal Scientist at GE Healthcare.

Follow @GECellBiology on Twitter (News - Alert) for updates on the competition and cellular science.

About the GE Healthcare 2013 Cell Imaging Competition

The Cell Imaging Competition, supported by BioTechniques, celebrates the exceptional research of scientists across the world using IN Cell Analyzer, DeltaVision™ Elite and DeltaVision OMX™ systems in their work. Voting started on 14^th November 2013 and continued online until 7th January 2014. Alongside the online voting, attendees at two conferences (ASCB, December 14-18, USA and MBSJ, December 3-6, Japan) were also invited to vote for their favourite. The votes were combined to select up to a possible maximum of four winners: one main High-Content Analysis winner, one main Microscopy winner, plus a regional winner from any region not represented by the winners of these two categories. The three regions are; North America; Europe, Middle East and Africa; Asia and the rest of the world (including Australia and New Zealand). Details of the judging panel can be found here and full terms and conditions can be found here.

About GE Healthcare

GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services to meet the demand for increased access, enhanced quality and more affordable healthcare around the world. GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter - great people and technologies taking on tough challenges. From medical imaging, software & IT, patient monitoring and diagnostics to drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies and performance improvement solutions, GE Healthcare helps medical professionals deliver great healthcare to their patients. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140312005521/en/

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