BOSTON — Elucid said its Plaque-IQ arterial plaque analysis software was named “Best New Cardiology Technology Solution” in the 2026 MedTech Breakthrough Awards.
The Boston AI medical technology company develops imaging software intended to give physicians a more precise view of atherosclerosis and support patient-specific treatment decisions.
Plaque-IQ is designed to noninvasively quantify and classify coronary and carotid plaque and its components, including lipid-rich necrotic core, a high-risk plaque feature associated with heart attack and stroke. Elucid said the software is powered by its CT-Virtual Histology technology and is trained and validated against histology, the gold standard for plaque characterization.
The MedTech Breakthrough Awards program recognizes companies, technologies and products in digital health and medical technology. The 2026 program marked the awards’ 10th year and drew nominations from companies and startups in more than 20 countries.
“Elucid is redefining how cardiovascular disease (CVD) is identified, enabling earlier identification of disease and intervention. CVD is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, yet many are undiagnosed until a serious event occurs, with seemingly low risk patients accounting for almost half of heart attacks. Current diagnostics miss key information on the type of plaque patients have, relying on technologies validated only against visual interpretation,” said Steve Johansson, managing director, MedTech Breakthrough. “With Plaque-IQ, there is a future where CVD is found earlier. Elucid’s solution supports physicians’ understanding of patient risk to tailor medical guidance and prevent heart attack and stroke.”
Elucid CEO Kelly Huang, Ph.D., said early detection of plaque buildup could play a broader role in preventive cardiovascular care.
“The strongest early predictor of cardiovascular risk is atherosclerotic plaque buildup in the arteries, making early detection and targeted intervention essential to improving outcomes. Just as mammography transformed breast cancer screening and colonoscopy for colon cancer, we believe advanced cardiovascular screening can become routine preventive care. We remain committed to advancing clinically meaningful imaging analytics that support physician decision-making and help reduce the burden of and lives lost to heart attack and stroke.”
