Amsterdam, Netherlands - Royal Philips Electronics has announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a five-year research collaboration with King's College London.

Under the multi-million Euro agreement, Philips and King's College London's Division of Imaging Sciences will develop new medical imaging research projects with a particular focus on cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology. One of the key areas of focus will be on combining different imaging technologies, such as X-ray, MRI, ultrasound and CT, to help doctors navigate their way through a patient's heart during minimal-invasive procedures.

Philips and King's College London have already built a long-standing relationship, in particular through the College's Division of Imaging Sciences, in the areas of image analysis, especially in the field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, diagnostics and interventional guidance. The new agreement aims at the continuation of long-term collaboration in these fields and will also seek to establish new research projects into medical imaging for cardiovascular disease, cardiac arrhythmias and pediatric diseases.
Reza Razavi, Professor of Paediatric Cardiovascular Science at King's College London and Head of the Division of Imaging Sciences, said: "We have a long history of working closely with Philips and this new agreement will allow us to continue our research into cardiovascular disease for many more years. Through our research we hope to advance the way we diagnose and treat heart conditions and so improve the care of children and adults with cardiovascular disease."

Steve Rusckowski, CEO of Philips Healthcare and member of the Board of Management of Royal Philips, added: "We believe that understanding the needs of patients and care providers ensures we create solutions that best meet their requirements and so are very proud to be working in close co-operation with Professor Razavi, the team at King's College London and Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital. Through these innovative research projects we hope to find new ways of delivering cardiology care that will offer real benefits for patients and clinicians."

King's through its commercial arm, King's College London Business, is focused on creating mutually beneficial industrial collaborations of this kind as part of its translational research agenda.

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified Health and Well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 128,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2007, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

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