The leadership change comes as Phase Holographic Imaging (PHI) advances toward the market launch of HoloMonitor CellSync, a next-generation live cell imaging system. CellSync is currently undergoing pre-production testing at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, two prestigious research centers in the United States. It is the first in a planned product line aimed at enabling high-precision, label-free imaging for cell and gene therapy manufacturing.
CellSync builds on PHI’s proprietary Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) technology, enabling high-resolution imaging of live cells without chemical staining. The device’s enhanced imaging speed and ability to synchronize multiple HoloMonitor units are designed to enable real-time monitoring of complex cellular behaviors, such as cardiomyocyte dynamics – one of the system’s key differentiators.
Already a product on the market
Unlike many early-stage life science companies still navigating clinical validation and risk, and dependent on continuous funding, PHI has already cleared a major hurdle – bringing a product to market.
The new product iteration, CellSync, is scheduled for market release in the second half of 2025, a timeline that aligns with the increasing demand for quality control solutions in regenerative medicine and cancer research. The CellSync model features a new camera module, automated cell segmentation, and AI-enhanced data processing – the result of two years of intensive R&D.
Commercial progress and global outreach
PHI increased sales growth significantly in Q3 2024 and year-to-date, outpacing its full-year results for 2023. This momentum is attributed partly to PHI’s strategic partnership with Altium, the company’s largest shareholder and global distributor. Altium has broadened PHI’s presence across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia while supporting expansion into emerging markets.
The leadership shift signals PHI’s intent to sharpen its focus on commercial readiness and scalability. With Eschricht’s prior experience leading the company, the aim is to accelerate market adoption of CellSync and reinforce its position as a trusted provider of live cell imaging solutions.
Comments from the CEO
Curious about his return and how he plans to lead PHI through the CellSync launch, we spoke with Patrik Eschricht.
Patrik, what motivated you to return as CEO – what about PHI’s direction appealed to you most?
– Returning to PHI feels like a natural progression rather than a restart. The company is at a pivotal moment – having transitioned from an R&D-heavy organization into one that is commercially primed. The launch of CellSync represents the culmination of years of innovation, and the opportunity to help bring it to market was simply too compelling to pass up. I believe strongly in our mission to improve how cell and gene therapies are developed, and PHI is uniquely positioned to make that impact real.
What lessons from your previous CEO term will shape your current strategy?
– My prior term underscored the importance of aligning innovation with market readiness. Great technology alone is not enough – it needs to meet real-world needs at the right time and scale. This time, we are placing sharper focus on execution: tighter cross-functional coordination, faster decision-making, and a laser focus on customer engagement. I also learned the value of proactive communication – both internally and externally – to keep momentum strong and stakeholders aligned.
What are your top three priorities as you return to the CEO role?
- Successful commercialization of CellSync – ensuring we meet our H2 2025 launch timeline with full product and service readiness.
- Strengthening our global sales infrastructure – deepen our footprint in priority markets and activate new ones.
- Operational scalability – preparing our processes, team, and support systems to meet increasing demand without compromising on quality.
How do you plan to accelerate the CellSync product launch timeline?
– Acceleration starts with clarity and focus. We are optimising our development-to-manufacturing pipeline, leveraging real-time feedback from our clinical partners, and ensuring close collaboration between R&D, quality, and commercial teams. We are also prioritizing investments in regulatory preparedness and customer training resources so that when we launch, our customers can adopt and scale quickly.
What distinguishes CellSync in the live cell imaging market?
– CellSync combines two powerful capabilities: high-speed, label-free imaging and multi-device synchronization. This makes it ideal for monitoring complex, dynamic cell behaviors – like cardiomyocyte contractions – in real time, across multiple sites or units. Unlike traditional imaging systems that require chemical staining or extensive sample prep, CellSync preserves cell integrity and reduces processing time, which is critical for therapeutic applications. The integration of AI-driven segmentation and analysis makes it not just a tool for imaging, but a complete insight platform.
How critical is Altium’s role in PHI’s global sales and distribution model?
– Altium has played an important role as a distribution partner, particularly in helping us expand our global reach and establish local presence in key markets and areas where we did not have resources ourselves. They also provide PHI with vital knowledge and input regarding sales – in essence helping PHI go from developing to commercial company.
What role will AI play in future HoloMonitor developments?
– AI is a foundational element in our product roadmap. With the massive amount of cellular data our systems capture, AI enables more efficient, accurate, and actionable analysis. We are working on expanding AI capabilities in areas such as predictive modeling, automated anomaly detection, and intelligent experiment design. Ultimately, we want to give researchers not just images, but meaningful insights – faster and with greater confidence.
What specific metrics will define success for PHI in the next 12 months?
– We will primarily measure success on commercial traction: product adoption rates, customer retention, and sales growth, but also on other dimensions such as operational performance: on-time delivery, manufacturing scalability, etc., and innovation output: successful rollout of AI enhancements and completion of next-phase development milestones for our product line.
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