15 Years of Cirdan: From Startup to Specialist
From humble beginnings in Dunmurry to becoming a recognised name in global diagnostics, Cirdan’s 15-year journey has been one of purpose, persistence, and progress.
What started as a small team with a bold vision has evolved into a company trusted by healthcare institutions around the world. From pathology to breast biopsy and surgery, Cirdan’s technologies can be found in hospitals and labs across the globe, and its growing footprint in the world of healthcare shows no sign of slowing as it enters its 16th year.
To Imaging and Beyond
In 2010, Cirdan was founded with a clear mission: to improve the delivery of healthcare through the development of innovative and intuitive solutions. The early years were marked by rapid learning, product refinement, and a close-knit culture that blended technical excellence with a shared passion for meaningful impact.
Our first ever headquarter premises were located in Dunmurry. In this office, our tiny team developed our first product: the PathLite Compact!
PathLite Compact’s success revolutionised Cirdan. Not only did it prove the critical nature of high-quality imaging in pathology as part of the diagnosis process, but it also allowed us to see first hand the value of LIS. More specifically, the value which could be delivered to pathologists in their determining of diagnoses with a LIS which integrates seamlessly with imaging systems, allowing them to combine findings from each part of the patient’s journey to ultimately make a diagnosis.
That’s why in 2013, after a few years of operating in the world of laboratory imaging, Cirdan decided to branch outwards into the Laboratory Information System world and further advance our footprint in the world of pathology. Cirdan acquired our now flagship product, ULTRA LIS, from GE Healthcare.
Tailored to the needs of clinicians, lab staff, and IT teams alike, and with a long-standing legacy in delivering efficient lab systems around the world, ULTRA reflected Cirdan’s user-centred design philosophy from the outset. Immediately our team sprang to work in redeveloping and furthering ULTRA’s capabilities, with our vision in mind of delivering powerful end-to-end clinical, analytical, and managerial solutions for all disciplines. This demanded clinical knowledge. And so, our team increased as we developed an in-house clinical team, to further ULTRA’s progress and support our global ULTRA customers with their day-to-day work in the lab.
It was our following premises in Lisburn which saw the development of our next system, the CoreLite, in 2018. This was our first step into creating a x-ray imaging system entirely from scratch, and also our first system designed specifically for the breast cancer diagnosis pathway.
But it didn’t stop there. As the industry continued to develop and grow, so did we. Cirdan outgrew its Lisburn premises and moved to our current location: Lambeg, on the banks of the River Lagan. Here, we expanded this knowledge of the breast cancer diagnosis pathway even further, as we branched into the world of breast surgery with Solas OR x-ray specimen system, and later its pathology counterpart, the Solas OR XL. We dug deep into the world of breast cancer and implemented novel technologies, such as photon-counting in our image capturing process, to deliver the best possible systems for breast surgeons and pathologists alike.
But we wanted to push the boundaries even further. In 2020, Cirdan acquired a local Belfast business, Philips Digital and Computational Pathology business, formerly known as PathXL. This allowed us to expand and develop our digital pathology and AI side of our business, as we begun development on Cirdan DP, our digital pathology solution, and Tutor, our digital pathology education platform.
Since then, Cirdan has moved from strength to strength, branching into even more areas in healthcare such as having created a sample collection application, Cirdan Collect, as well as patient and practitioner portals to create a direct link between the laboratory and patient.
Evolution: From Sapling to Forest
As the company grew, so too did its understanding of the complex and varied needs of modern healthcare across the globe. Over the years, as Cirdan expanded its product portfolio, developed new functionalities, it also entered new markets. Our global support offices in Canada and Australia came into their own as Cirdan developed a 24/7/365 Follow-the-Sun support model, allowing all of our customers, clients and partners direct access to our team from anywhere, at any time.
Our customers and partners grew in number, too. After 15 years, in 2025, Cirdan currently has a presence in over 150 labs and hospitals, in more than 20 countries across 6 continents. Whether supporting national health systems or local laboratories, Cirdan’s commitment remained the same: to deliver solutions that are robust, adaptable, and grounded in clinical realities.
The Faces Behind Cirdan
At the heart of Cirdan’s growth and journey is its people. Many team members have been part of the journey since the early days, while others have joined along the way, bringing new ideas from their respective pathways and backgrounds.
What unites them all is a shared belief in Cirdan’s mission and values. Cirdan has cultivated a culture that encourages curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning: an environment where innovation thrives, and people feel empowered to make a difference.
Cirdan’s specialist expertise is not just technical; it’s human. Since 2010, our team has grown to over 120 global members. From engineers, to product designers, to lab analysts and support staff, Cirdan’s multidisciplinary team brings a depth of knowledge from many backgrounds, that allows us to navigate the intricacies of the ever-evolving healthcare landscape with insight and agility.
An Eye Towards the Future
While Cirdan has grown significantly in scale and scope, it has stayed true to its founding ethos: to bring purpose, innovation, and wisdom to the world of diagnostics. The journey from startup to specialist hasn’t always been easy, but each milestone met and lesson learned has helped shape the resilient, forward-looking organisation that Cirdan is today.
As Cirdan marks its 15th birthday, we do so not only with pride in how far we have come, but with a clear eye on the road ahead. The healthcare landscape continues to evolve, and so will Cirdan—guided by our belief that diagnostic excellence can transform lives.