The initiative aligns with Marshall University’s longstanding commitment to improve health outcomes and access to care in rural communities. By combining artificial intelligence, medical imaging and radiology workflow technologies with Marshall’s academic, research and healthcare expertise, the effort is expected to help address some of the challenges facing rural health systems, including limited access to specialized care and shortages of healthcare professionals.
At the same time, the technologies being developed are intended to have applications well beyond rural communities, creating opportunities for innovations developed in Huntington to be adopted by health systems of varying sizes nationwide and internationally.
“This is exactly the kind of opportunity the Idea District was created to attract — companies that are solving important problems while creating a platform for even greater innovation,” said Marshall University President Brad D. Smith. “Synthesis Health brings expertise, technology and entrepreneurial energy to Huntington, with a particular opportunity to strengthen rural healthcare. Just as importantly, we expect its presence to serve as a springboard for additional companies that can build on the work being done here and create new solutions of their own.”
Synthesis is actively recruiting employees in the Huntington region and plans to move into the future Med-Tech building once fully staffed. It’s expected construction on the facility will begin in Summer 2027.
“Radiology plays a central role in clinical decision-making, but access to advanced imaging expertise and technology can be particularly challenging in rural communities,” said Synthesis Health CEO Dr. Murray Reicher. “Our goal is to develop practical technologies that help close those gaps while creating tools that can benefit radiology practices and health systems of all sizes.”
Reicher said Synthesis Health’s decision to establish a presence in Huntington is supported by a growing partnership among LG NOVA, Aurion Capital, IRC Holdings, the state of West Virginia and Marshall, among others.
The enterprise will focus on artificial intelligence-driven (AI) imaging tools, radiology workflow improvements and technologies designed to support faster, more accurate diagnoses. It will be spearheaded by IRC Holdings, LLC which will form a new company, RadVentures, that will develop and validate AI tools designed for integration into existing radiology infrastructure, including PACS and enterprise imaging systems.
“Using the Idea District model created by Marshall University President Brad Smith, and with support from our financial partners, including LG NOVA, we plan to build an advanced radiology IT center in Huntington anchored by a state-of-the-art AI incubator,” said Dr. Dennis M. Burton, president and CEO of IRC Holdings, LLC and a member of Marshall’s medical school’s inaugural class. “We also intend to work with our partners on a rural health IT initiative aimed at addressing gaps in care through technology.”
As part of its longer-term plans, Synthesis Health also is exploring a collaborative advanced-development program focused on next-generation radiology technologies. The effort would bring together expertise in medical imaging, artificial intelligence and data science, with early work examining the role of augmented and advanced visualization tools in improving diagnostic workflows.
The company’s presence in the Idea District is expected to have an impact beyond Synthesis Health itself. By establishing a specialized radiology innovation platform in Huntington, the company can provide a foundation for other entrepreneurs and businesses to develop complementary technologies and applications.
“The arrival of Synthesis Health is important not only because of the work the company will do, but because of what it can make possible for the next company and the one after that,” said Toney Stroud, Marshall’s chief legal officer and vice president for strategic initiatives and corporate relations. “We envision a platform where companies can use the research, technology, talent and partnerships being developed here as a springboard for their own innovations. That is how an innovation district becomes an ecosystem, building on one another’s success.”
The approach supports Marshall’s broader strategy of using innovation and research to address the unique challenges of rural communities while creating economic opportunities throughout the region. Technologies developed in Huntington can be tested against real-world needs in rural healthcare and then scaled to larger markets.
Additional quotes:
“Today is a great day to be in Huntington. If we are doing anything in Huntington, we are working as a team. We are working as a partnership across the entire region trying to find all the people who want to make a difference, bringing them here, and actually doing it.”
Huntington Mayor Patrick Farrell
“Radiology examinations are expanding exponentially, but radiologists are not. We need to apply new technology, AI, to expand human intelligence to address that problem. LG Nova, Aurion Capital see an incredible market opportunity here. We are thrilled to be a part of it.”
LG NOVA, senior advisor Mitch Carmichael
“For 200 years, the history, the economy of West Virginia was built on mining and when you said that word it meant coal. We want our future to also be based on mining, but we know it won’t just be on natural resources, it will be mining data, mining information and mining the knowledge economy that lets us transform the economy of West Virginia and the economy of the United States of America.”
West Virginia Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw
“One of the things we are so proud of is to see Synthesis Health looking at establishing a presence in the Marshall University IDEA District. What we know is that you are going to join a growing number of enterprises that recognize the value of setting up shop here in the Mountain State.”
West Virginia Secretary of Commerce Matt Herridge