CEO Dr Katerina Spranger awarded the Princess Royal Silver Medal by the Academy of Engineering

London, 9th July 2024 - Dr. Katerina Spranger has been awarded the prestigious Princess Royal Silver Medal by the Royal Academy of Engineering. This award, named after HRH The Princess Royal, celebrates "outstanding personal contribution to UK engineering by an early to mid-career engineer resulting in market exploitation." 

PreSize®, is a cutting-edge AI-powered software that significantly enhances the safety and precision of stent placement - used to treat brain aneurysms. 

Brain aneurysms affect approximately 1 in 50 people in the UK, with around 6,000 people experiencing a rupture annually. The healthcare costs and personal impacts are profound, as highlighted by actress Emilia Clarke, who suffered multiple brain aneurysms, including during her time filming Game of Thrones. 

Traditional methods of selecting the appropriate brain implant or stent from hundreds of options can be imprecise, leading to serious complications and additional medical expenses. PreSize® addresses this critical issue by demonstrating how a specific implant fits within a patient's anatomy with 95% accuracy, enabling surgeons to make informed decisions and significantly improve patient outcomes. 

PreSize® offers surgeons an opportunity to rehearse high-risk, minimally invasive procedures and choose the best scenario for every patient, reducing surgical complications and improving patient outcomes. The technology consists of an unprecedented combination of artificial intelligence, image processing and biomechanical modelling.

Dr. Spranger’s recognition highlights her remarkable achievements in building Oxford Heartbeat and bringing its innovative solutions to the market. Luke Logan, Chair of the Academy’s Awards Committee, praised this year’s winners, stating, “The winners of The Princess Royal Silver Medal for 2024 have each pioneered groundbreaking innovations, which they have commercialised into  successful businesses. They have made extensive contributions to engineering in the UK through the development of innovative technologies that address environmental and societal challenges.”

Dr Spranger said “Oxford Heartbeat’s success is built on a foundation of engineering excellence, rigorous research and development, and clinical evidence. PreSize® was developed with direct input from clinical teams, ensuring its reliability and precision. 

“The software’s effectiveness has been validated through peer-reviewed publications, and its clinical benefits are currently being evaluated in a pioneering clinical trial in the neurosurgery AI software space. It is truly humbling to be recognised by the Academy of Engineering in this way.”

The innovative work of Oxford Heartbeat and Dr. Spranger has garnered significant media attention, including features on BBC Click, The Times (2023), and Sky News. Dr. Spranger’s accolades include a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellowship in 2017, the Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award 2023, and recognition by Forbes as a “founder striving to change the world.”

Joining an illustrious list of past recipients, including James Roberts, inventor of the mOm incubator, Dr. Spranger’s award underscores her contribution to engineering and innovation. 

Dr. Spranger added, “I am proud and excited to receive such a prestigious award, and could not have achieved this without the work of my fantastic team. Oxford Heartbeat’s core values of integrity and evidence-based innovation have previously been highlighted through our product quality and its clinical impact, so it is particularly special to also be recognized for our commercial impact, where we are proud to be contributing to the UK as an AI innovation hub.”

The awards will be presented tonight, at the Academy Awards Dinner in London, by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence KCVO CB, on behalf of HRH The Princess Royal. Katerina will be attending the dinner alongside fellow 2024 winners Dr. Daniel Jamieson, CEO of Biorelate Ltd, Dr. Orr Yarkoni, CEO of Colorfix, and Professor Jason Hallett, Professor of Sustainable Chemical Technology at Imperial College London.

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