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IDentIFY · Project

New MRI Technology That Detects Diseases Standard Scanners Miss

healthPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)
abdn.ac.uk

Regular MRI machines take pictures at one fixed magnetic field strength — like photographing a room with only one light setting. This project built an MRI that rapidly switches its magnetic field up and down while scanning, which reveals tissue information that's completely invisible to normal machines. Think of it as adding an adjustable dimmer switch to a camera so you can see hidden details. The team tested this on real tissue samples and patients, and managed to make the scanning 16 times faster than before.

By the numbers
16x
Speed-up in FFC-MRI data collection
12
Consortium partners
6
Countries represented
22
Total project deliverables
4
Relaxometer sites upgraded
3
SMEs in consortium
The business problem

What needed solving

Current MRI scanners miss critical diagnostic information for diseases like osteoarthritis, thromboembolic disease, cancer, and sarcopenia because they operate at a single fixed magnetic field strength. This leads to late diagnoses, inconclusive results, and unnecessary follow-up procedures — costing hospitals time and money while patients wait for answers.

The solution

What was built

The project built upgraded field-cycling MRI and relaxometer hardware at 4 research sites, multi-coil RF receiver arrays, low-field correction coils, power supply stabilization tools, and achieved a 16x speed-up in data collection. On the software side, they delivered numerical tools for relaxation analysis, an image analysis and display toolbox, and a software package for biomarker detection and extraction — 22 deliverables in total.

Audience

Who needs this

MRI scanner manufacturers looking to develop next-generation diagnostic equipmentHospital radiology departments dealing with inconclusive scan results for joint, vascular, or cancer diagnosticsPharmaceutical companies developing MRI contrast agents seeking new application marketsMedical device startups focused on affordable diagnostic imagingClinical research organizations running imaging trials for osteoarthritis or cancer biomarkers
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical imaging equipment
enterprise
Target: MRI scanner manufacturers

If you are an MRI equipment manufacturer looking to differentiate your product line — this project developed field-cycling MRI technology with 22 deliverables including RF coil arrays, power supply stabilization, and software toolboxes for image analysis. The 16x speed-up in data collection makes the technology practical for clinical settings. With 12 consortium partners across 6 countries having validated the approach, this could be your next-generation scanner platform.

Clinical diagnostics
enterprise
Target: Hospital radiology departments and diagnostic chains

If you run a radiology department struggling with inconclusive MRI results for conditions like osteoarthritis, thromboembolic disease, or early-stage cancer — this project created software packages for detecting and extracting quantitative biomarkers that standard MRI cannot see. The numerical tools for relaxation analysis let radiologists measure tissue properties rather than just view images. This means earlier detection and more confident diagnoses from the same scan appointment.

Pharmaceutical and contrast agent development
mid-size
Target: Companies developing MRI contrast agents

If you develop MRI contrast agents and want to expand into next-generation imaging — this project investigated both new and existing clinical contrast agents specifically for field-cycling MRI sensitivity and molecular imaging. The comprehensive theory of relaxation processes in tissues and the upgraded relaxometers at 4 research sites provide a ready testing infrastructure. This opens a new market segment for your contrast agent portfolio.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt this technology?

The project was a Research and Innovation Action coordinated by the University of Aberdeen. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with the university and relevant consortium partners. Based on available project data, no commercial pricing has been established yet.

Can this scale to industrial production of scanners?

The technology has been demonstrated in proof-of-principle patient scans and the data collection speed was improved by a factor of 16. However, this remains at the research-to-prototype stage with only 1 industry partner and 8% industry ratio in the consortium. Scaling to mass-produced clinical scanners would require significant additional engineering and regulatory work.

What is the IP situation and who owns the results?

The consortium of 12 partners across 6 countries produced 22 deliverables including hardware designs, software packages, and theoretical models. IP ownership typically follows Horizon 2020 rules where each partner owns their results. Specific licensing arrangements should be discussed with the University of Aberdeen as coordinator.

Has this been tested on real patients?

Yes, the project objectives explicitly included proof-of-principle scans on patients and testing on tissue samples from surgery and tissue banks. The project also developed software for detecting, extracting and quantitatively describing biomarkers from the scan data.

What diseases can this detect better than standard MRI?

The project targeted unmet clinical needs in thromboembolic disease, osteoarthritis, cancer, and sarcopenia. The field-cycling approach generates quantitative biomarkers that are invisible to standard MRI, potentially enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis in these areas.

How does this fit with existing hospital MRI infrastructure?

This requires purpose-built field-cycling MRI scanners — it cannot be added as a software upgrade to existing machines. However, the project specifically addressed cost, noting that lower-cost equipment contributes to healthcare sustainability. The 16x speed-up in data collection helps make scan times clinically practical.

What regulatory approvals are needed?

Based on available project data, the technology has not yet received medical device regulatory approval. As a new class of MRI scanner, it would require CE marking in Europe and FDA clearance in the US before clinical deployment. The proof-of-principle patient scans were conducted under research protocols.

Consortium

Who built it

The IDentIFY consortium of 12 partners across 6 countries (DE, FI, FR, IT, PL, UK) is heavily academic, with 6 universities and 3 research organizations making up the core. Only 1 industry partner and 3 SMEs participated, giving an 8% industry ratio — one of the lowest you'll see. This means the science is solid but the path to commercialization has barely been explored within the project. For a business looking to adopt this technology, you would likely need to partner with the University of Aberdeen (coordinator) and bring your own manufacturing and regulatory expertise to the table.

How to reach the team

The coordinator is The University Court of the University of Aberdeen (UK). Contact the university's research commercialization office or the FFC-MRI research group directly.

Order a report on this consortiumSee THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN profile →
Next steps

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