Quantum leap in MRI scanning: New technology to strengthen early cancer diagnostics
A new research project aims to make it possible to detect cancer activity earlier than with conventional scans. Innovation Fund Denmark is investing DKK 40 million in the project MIRAQLE, which is headed by Professor Christoffer Laustsen from the Department of Clinical Medicine.
Standard MRI scans are good at showing the size and location of a tumour, but they overlook metabolic activity that can reveal how aggressive the disease is, or whether a treatment is working.
In the MIRAQLE project, researchers from the MR Research Centre, together with the company NVision Imaging Technologies, are developing a new type of quantum-enhanced MRI technology that amplifies contrast agents’ MRI signal and makes it possible to visualise cancer metabolism during a routine scan.
The project has a particular focus on liver cancer, where it can be difficult to distinguish between benign changes and cancer in the early stages. Many patients are currently only diagnosed when the disease is advanced.
“We will be able to see how the cancer behaves, not just where it is. This can change the feedback cycle from months to days and have a decisive impact on when and how patients are treated,” says Professor Christoffer Laustsen, project leader and head of the MR Research Centre.
The technology is based on quantum physics and can make MRI scans up to 100,000 times more sensitive than today. At the same time, the scan is performed without radioactive radiation and can be integrated into existing MRI scanners at hospitals.
The project has a total budget of DKK 51.5 million and runs over five years.
You can read the full press release on The Innovation Fund Denmark website.
Contact
Professor Christoffer Laustsen
Aarhus University, Health – MR Research Centre
Phone: +45 24 43 91 41
Email: cl@clin.au.dk