PRIMOGAIA · Project

Low-Cost MRI That Detects Diseases Earlier by Mapping Enzyme Activity

healthPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

Imagine if an MRI machine could not just take pictures of your organs, but actually show which chemical reactions are happening inside your body in real time. That's what this project built — an MRI system that works at Earth's natural magnetic field instead of needing a giant, expensive superconducting magnet. By tracking how enzymes behave in tissue, doctors could spot diseases like lung conditions much earlier than current methods allow. And because the equipment is radically simpler, it could cost a fraction of what hospitals pay for conventional MRI scanners.

By the numbers

100x+

Signal enhancement through Overhauser effect (more than two orders of magnitude)

70MHz

Operating frequency for EPR saturation

Consortium partners across 4 countries

10cm

Initial prototype sample size capability

Lines of radical generation chemistry developed

Total project deliverables

The business problem

What needed solving

Current MRI scanners cost millions of euros, require specialized infrastructure with cryogenic cooling, and can only show structural images — they cannot detect the biochemical activity of enzymes that signals the earliest stages of disease. This means many conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are caught too late for optimal treatment. Developing countries and smaller clinics are entirely locked out of MRI diagnostics due to cost.

The solution

What was built

The project built a working earth-field MRI prototype progressing from a small-sample kernel (below 10cm) to a complete whole-body system with polarization coils, gradient coils, RF and LF coils. They demonstrated first in vitro images and developed 3 lines of enzyme-activated molecular probes that generate imaging signal only when specific enzymes are present.

Audience

Who needs this

MRI equipment manufacturers looking for next-generation low-cost platformsDiagnostic reagent companies developing enzyme-specific imaging probesHealthcare providers in developing countries lacking MRI infrastructurePulmonology clinics seeking earlier COPD detection methodsMobile and field hospital operators needing portable imaging solutions

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical imaging equipment

enterprise

Target: MRI system manufacturers and distributors

If you are an MRI equipment manufacturer looking to expand into underserved markets — this project developed a complete whole-body MRI prototype that operates at earth field, eliminating the need for expensive superconducting magnets. The system uses 70MHz frequency for a technique called Overhauser enhancement that boosts signal by more than two orders of magnitude. This could open up MRI access in developing countries and smaller clinics that cannot afford conventional scanners.

Pharmaceutical diagnostics

mid-size

Target: Diagnostic reagent and contrast agent companies

If you are a diagnostics company developing contrast agents or molecular probes — this project created new radical-based probes that generate signal only when activated by specific enzymes. These probes work as 'prodrugs' that light up on imaging only after enzymatic activation, enabling a new category of enzyme-specific diagnostic products. The consortium includes 3 lines of probe chemistry ready for further development.

Rural and mobile healthcare

any

Target: Mobile clinic operators and healthcare NGOs

If you operate healthcare services in remote areas or developing countries where conventional MRI is unavailable — this project built a low-cost MRI platform that does not require cryogenic cooling or massive infrastructure. The prototype progressed from small samples below 10cm to a complete body-sized system. This technology could bring diagnostic imaging to locations where it was previously impossible.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much cheaper is this MRI system compared to conventional scanners?

The project states the methodology will be 'much less expensive than current clinical scanners.' Conventional MRI systems cost €1-3 million. By eliminating the superconducting magnet (the most expensive component), this earth-field approach should cost significantly less, though exact pricing has not been published.

Can this technology scale to full clinical use?

The project delivered a complete whole-body system prototype, progressing from small samples (below 10cm) to body-sized units. This demonstrates scaling capability, though the system is still at prototype stage and would need clinical validation and regulatory approval before hospital deployment.

What is the IP situation and how could a company license this?

The project involves 8 partners across 4 countries, including 2 SMEs (Stelar and Pure Devices) already active in MRI instrumentation. IP is likely shared among consortium members. Companies interested in licensing should contact the coordinator CNRS or the industrial partners directly.

What diseases can this detect?

The project specifically targets chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and aims at very early detection and prognosis of pathologies through enzymatic mapping. The technique maps enzyme activity in tissue, which could apply to any disease where abnormal enzyme activity is an early marker.

How does the signal quality compare to conventional MRI?

The Overhauser enhancement technique delivers a signal boost of more than two orders of magnitude (100x+) compared to the baseline earth-field signal. While this does not match the resolution of high-field clinical MRI, it provides a fundamentally different type of contrast — enzymatic activity — that conventional MRI cannot detect at all.

What is the regulatory pathway?

As a new class of medical imaging device combined with new contrast probes, this would require regulatory approval for both the hardware and the reagents. Based on available project data, the system is at prototype stage and regulatory submissions have not yet been mentioned in the deliverables.

What is the timeline to market readiness?

The project ran from 2019 to 2023 and delivered working prototypes. Based on typical medical device development timelines after prototype stage, clinical trials and regulatory approval would likely require additional years of development. A company entering now would be investing in a pre-clinical technology with demonstrated proof of concept.

Consortium

Who built it

The PRIMOGAIA consortium brings together 8 partners from 4 European countries (France, Germany, Belgium, Italy), with a practical mix of 4 universities providing scientific expertise, 2 research organizations, and 2 industrial partners including 2 SMEs. The 25% industry ratio is notable for a frontier research project. Stelar (magnetic systems) and Pure Devices (MRI instrumentation) are directly relevant manufacturers who could carry this technology toward commercialization. CNRS Bordeaux leads the coordination, with domain expertise spread across Aix-Marseille University, University of Mons, University of Torino (reagent chemistry), and Fraunhofer (physics and engineering). This structure gives the project a credible path from lab to product, though additional clinical and regulatory partners would be needed for market entry.

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSCoordinator · FR
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TORINOparticipant · IT
STELAR SRLparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITE DE MONSparticipant · BE
UNIVERSITE DE BORDEAUXthirdparty · FR
UNIVERSITE D'AIX MARSEILLEparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), France — reach out to the Bordeaux EPR/MRI research group

Order a report on this consortium See CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing or partnership opportunities with the PRIMOGAIA team? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction to the right people in the consortium.

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