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Extending the clinical reach of MRI scanning through innovative low-field engineering and hyperpolarised xenon technology

Lead Research Organisation: University of Sheffield
Department Name: Infection Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Most magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners used in hospitals operate at a magnetic field strength of either 1.5T or 3T. Research scanners used for advanced imaging applications can have a magnetic field of 7T or higher. However, the build, installation and running costs of these "high field" imaging systems scales with the magnetic field strength. This limits the accessibility and reach of MRI as a versatile and clinically-useful imaging modality. Recent technological advances in artificial intelligence for high-quality image reconstruction pioneered by GE Healthcare (GEHC) with their AIRTM Recon DL product, alongside radiofrequency coil and scanner system engineering developments, make a strong case to revisit "low-field" MRI; e.g. 0.5T. In parallel, novel technologies - such as hyperpolarised 129Xe gas MRI for the lungs pioneered at the University of Sheffield (UoS) - are poised to help maximise the clinical relevance of low-field MRI by providing information on physiology that cannot be visualised by other imaging modalities. In particular, lung MRI is a field of rapid development that will realise benefits at low field; the recent COVID pandemic has highlighted the real and present clinical need for more sensitive lung imaging technologies.

This EPSRC prosperity partnership will take the 12-year strong collaboration between UoS and GEHC to the next level through a synergistic research programme that capitalises on the strengths of both partners. Our programme will focus on two main themes:
(i) The development and integration of hardware and software needed to achieve clinically-useful lung MRI on the NHS's most common "high-field" systems.
(ii) Research into low-field MRI physics and engineering, and the development of hardware and software to demonstrate high-quality imaging at low-field.
The work plan for these themes is divided into several work packages, each of which will be led by a team of dedicated experts from either UoS or GEHC with expertise matched to the specific research goals. In addition, this partnership will support four PhD students (three of whom are GEHC staff) to undertake a unique industry-academia co-supervised PhD programme and deliver on demonstrator projects that are distinct yet highly complementary to our main research goals.

Publications

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publication icon
Ball JE (2025) Finite element modeling of Rb-129Xe spin-exchange optical pumping and optimized Rb source distribution. in Journal of magnetic resonance (San Diego, Calif. : 1997)

 
Description A new celebration of UKRI funded research across the city, launched today, highlights how Sheffield's invention and ingenuity are leading the world, including:a new technique to safely scan kids' lungs:
Safe diagnoses for young lungs
Lung conditions in children can be difficult to spot early and even harder to monitor.

Under-fives are too young for standard breathing tests.

Chest X-rays and CT scans help at first, but repeating them means repeated exposure to radiation, which needs to be balanced with the low-level risks.

Using technology to solve the problem
This problem has been solved by Professor Jim Wild and his team at The University of Sheffield's Insigneo Institute.

Their new technology uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with xenon gas to create scans of the air in the lungs in unprecedented detail, with no radiation.

This paves the way for faster diagnosis and better treatment for conditions such as asthma and cystic fibrosis.

First access for children and young people
Children and young people being cared for at Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust are the first in the UK to access this breakthrough technology.

This is part of cutting-edge research being undertaken at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

Clearer understanding of what's happening
Sarah, whose five-year-old daughter Zoe lives with bronchiectasis, said:

Having access to the MRI lung imaging facility before and after her treatment allowed us to gain a much clearer understanding of what was happening in her lungs and, crucially, how effective the treatment was at that time.

The results guided us in a different direction, meaning Zoe was spared unnecessary invasive procedures that could have impacted her life.

We now have a clearer picture of how Zoe's lungs are functioning, and this advanced imaging allows us to track changes with far greater precision, giving us the tools to support the best possible outcomes for her lung health as she grows into adulthood.
Exploitation Route We are expanding the clinical uptake of Sheffield made xenon and proton lung MRI methodology with the UK xenon lung MRI network by enabling new clinical sites with technology developed in this award at Leicester, Manchester, Liverpool, Cambridge, Nottingham, Oxford, UCL, Imperial
Further outreach to European (Aarhus, Denmark and Kiel Germany) and North American sites (Columba NY, Vancouver, McMaster)
Sectors Healthcare

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

URL https://www.ukri.org/news/shaped-in-sheffield-celebrates-ukris-science-investment-impact/
 
Description Sheffield Spin Tec Ltd has been spun out from the POLARIS group which will commercialise some of the background xenon MR technology developed in previosu EPSRC projects and aligned with this award
First Year Of Impact 2026
Sector Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology
 
Description 129Xe MRI to investigate lung physiology in paediatric difficult asthma
Amount £51,843 (GBP)
Organisation Sheffield Children's Hospital 
Sector Hospitals
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2025 
End 04/2026
 
Description An international lung MRI database for characterization of regional CF lung disease
Amount £28,084 (GBP)
Organisation Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
Sector Hospitals
Country United States
Start 03/2024 
End 03/2026
 
Description An international lung MRI database for characterization of regional CF lung disease
Amount £12,454 (GBP)
Organisation Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
Sector Hospitals
Country United States
Start 03/2024 
End 03/2026
 
Description Clinical outcome measures for children with Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis (PBB): A pilot observational study into patterns of ventilation in children with PBB using xenon-129 MRI
Amount £31,352 (GBP)
Organisation Sheffield Children's Hospital 
Sector Hospitals
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2024 
End 04/2024
 
Description Early detection and treatment of chronic rejection after lung transplantation
Amount £128,250 (GBP)
Organisation J P Moulton Charitable Foundation 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2024 
End 07/2024
 
Description Extending the clinical reach of MRI scanning through innovative low-field engineering and hyperpolarised xenon technology
Amount £2,977,386 (GBP)
Funding ID EPSRC_PP_175467 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2023 
End 04/2028
 
Description Extension to project 179724 An international lung MRI database for characterization of regional CF lung disease
Amount £11,662 (GBP)
Organisation Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United States
Start 06/2024 
End 03/2025
 
Description Pulmonary MRI assessment in HIV with obstructive lung disease: PuMAH OLD
Amount £8,538 (GBP)
Organisation British HIV Association (BHIVA) 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 03/2024
 
Description Shaping the future of nuclear hyperpolarisation: advancing SEOP theory and practice for cutting-edge polariser systems
Amount £1,689,232 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2026 
End 08/2030
 
Description Sheffield Platform for Imaging Research in Oncology
Amount £4,200,000 (GBP)
Organisation Yorkshire Cancer Research 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2025 
End 09/2029
 
Description The Centre for Heterogeneous Integrated MicroElectronic and Semiconductor Systems (CHIMES2)
Amount £14,395,730 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2026 
End 09/2030
 
Description The South Yorkshire Digital Health Hub
Amount £3,211,469 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/X03075X/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2023 
End 08/2026
 
Description Validation of the ErgoFitspacer device for children with asthma using Hyperpolarised gas flow imaging and computational fluid dynamics
Amount £44,562 (GBP)
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 03/2025
 
Title Novel 0.5T prototype MRI scanner and RF coils 
Description Prototype 0.5T 60cm bore MRI scanner commissioned in Sheffield 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2024 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact Novel prototype 0.5T 60cm bore MRI scanner installed and commissioned in Sheffield with first 1H images acquired 
 
Title Portable xenon polariser 
Description Development of a portable xenon polariser that can be taken to novice sites waiting to access the technology for clinical lung imaging 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2017 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Lung images acquired with xenon at papworth hospital Build of a polariser for UCL BRC 
 
Title Mapping lung ventilation from free-breathing lung MRI 
Description We have developed a method to reconstruct images at different inflation states from 3D lung MRI data acquired during quiescent breathing. Using a minimum of 2 inflation state images, we can register the images together and compare the signal intensities to derive a pseudo measurement of lung ventilation - this builds upon previous literature in the area but is the first time we have applied to this particular MRI acquisition. A subject of ongoing work is comparing this method using 2 images vs several images (e.g. 6, 10). 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2024 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact We are able to apply this method both prospectively and retrospectively to data that has been collected from a number of studies over the past year or more. Using free-breathing proton MRI, this method offers an alternative means to inhaled gas MRI for assessment of lung ventilation. Validation of this method in patients with lung disease is ongoing. 
 
Title SEOP modelling 
Description General simulation framework to model spin dynamics in 129Xe-Rb spin-exhchange optical pumping (SEOP) systems. 
Type Of Material Computer model/algorithm 
Year Produced 2024 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Enables other researchers to model their own SEOP systems using this MATLAB simulation model 
URL https://doi.org/10.60893/figshare.jap.c.7575320.v1
 
Title Xenon clinical trials consortium imaging database 
Description Database of xenon lung ventialtion images from 6 centres 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Open access database for training AI algorithms for segmeting ventilation images 
 
Description Aarhus University xenon poalriser and MRI pulse sequences 
Organisation Aarhus University
Country Denmark 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Enabled xenon MRI in Danish medical centre with POLARIS xenon polariser and mRI pulse sequences
Collaborator Contribution New collaboration for xenon lung MRI in Denmark , co supervision of PhD student
Impact Joint PhD student New site enabled for xenon multi centre imaging
Start Year 2021
 
Description Collaboration with Imperial College 
Organisation Imperial College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Provision of xenon polariser to a new site
Collaborator Contribution Provision of xenon polariser to a new site
Impact Provision of xenon polariser to a new clinical site for lung MRI
Start Year 2025
 
Description Columbia University NYC polariser collaboration 
Organisation Columbia University Medical Center
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Installed POLARIS xenon polariser and POLARIS pulse sequences for MRI of xenon
Collaborator Contribution New clinical site for xenon MRI
Impact Xenon MRI enabled in clinical site in US leading medical centre
Start Year 2020
 
Description Leicester University and NIHR BRC 
Organisation University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Department Leicester Royal Infirmary
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution Supply of a hyperpolariser for xenon MRI and technical support for a new clinical site
Collaborator Contribution Supply of a hyperpolariser for xenon MRI and technical support for a new clinical site
Impact Supply of a bespoke Sheffield POLARIS xenon polariser for imaging in Leicester
Start Year 2024
 
Description Low field MRI collaboration with University of Alberta 
Organisation University of Alberta
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Low field MRI collaboration with University of Alberta
Collaborator Contribution Preliminary collaborative exchanges around low field cardiac MRI with Prof Richard Thompson
Impact initial inter institutional collaboration around low field and lung MRI
Start Year 2025
 
Description Mc Master University Canada 
Organisation McMaster University
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Implementation of Sheffield lung xenon MRI protocols at a new site
Collaborator Contribution Clinical evaluation of Sheffield lung MRI protocols
Impact Ongoing collaborative research
Start Year 2021
 
Description University of British Columbia 
Organisation University of British Columbia
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Implementation of xenon MRI pulse sequences on UBC scannes
Collaborator Contribution Evaluation of Sheffield MRI protocols at a new clinical site
Impact Research ongoing
Start Year 2020
 
Description University of Kiel xenon MRI 
Organisation University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein -Kiel
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Enabled xenon polariser at Kiel university for medical and porous media research
Collaborator Contribution New site for xenon MRI
Impact Member of German porous media NMR researhc consortium
Start Year 2020
 
Description University of Manchester /Wythenshawe Hospital xenon polariser and MRI infrastructure collaboration 
Organisation University of Manchester
Department Manchester Business School
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Loan of a xenon polariser and expertise setting up a new clinical site in xenon MRI
Collaborator Contribution Recipeint clinical site keen to establish technology for lung imaging
Impact None yet
Start Year 2019
 
Description UoS / GE Healthcare prosperity partnership 
Organisation GE Healthcare Limited
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Academic IP and knowhow for low TRL physics and engineering research for hyperpolarised, lung and MRI technologies
Collaborator Contribution Engineering knowhow and IP for MRI scannner engineering
Impact EPSRC prosperity partnership award
Start Year 2012
 
Description Xenon clinical trails consortium 
Organisation Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Department Division of Rheumatology
Country United States 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution Founding member of consortium for development , evaluation and standardisation of imaging methods for outcome measures for clinical trials of respiratory therapeutics
Collaborator Contribution evaluation and standardisation of imaging methods for outcome measures for clinical trials of respiratory therapeutic
Impact none yet
Start Year 2015
 
Description Zero echo time MRI collaboration with KCL 
Organisation King's College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Testing custom zero ectho time MRI pulse sequence for lung applications
Collaborator Contribution Provided custom zero echo time MRI pulse sequence
Impact Outcome: Received custom zero echo time MRI pulse sequence. Outputs: No outputs yet but planned submission of scientific abstracts to upcoming International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine meeting.
Start Year 2024
 
Title NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE 
Description A passive filter circuit, for simultaneous dual-nuclear magnetic resonance quadrature transmit-receive that is configured to apply to an input a quadrature phase shift of a first polarity at a Larmor frequency of a first nucleus and a quadrature phase difference of a second polarity, that is opposite the first polarity, at the Larmor frequency of a second nucleus 
IP Reference WO2022269276 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 2022
Licensed Commercial In Confidence
Impact Licenced to RF coil company
 
Title Nuclear Magnetic Resonance 
Description RF coil technology for multi nuclear MRI 
IP Reference PCT/GB2022/051618 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted
Licensed Yes
Impact GB and US patent application pending for RF coil invention
 
Title Pulseteq Licence 
Description Licence to build 3He body RF coil designed in this project to Pulseteq Ltd 
IP Reference  
Protection Trade Mark
Year Protection Granted
Licensed Yes
Impact Unknown
 
Title 1H lung MRI deep learning segmentation tool 
Description Configuration file for deep learning inference of 1H lung MRI segmentation. 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact Dramatically reduced the time of lung segmentation, which is part of the analysis pipeline for our quantiative lung MRI metrics. Several publications from our group using this method. 
URL https://github.com/POLARIS-Sheffield/1H-MRI-segmentation
 
Title Contributions to open source software for free-breathing lung MRI reconstruction 
Description Contribution to iMoCo and MoCoLoR software that reconstructs free-breathing lung MRI images at different respiratory states to produce motion free images and provide functional information. https://github.com/POLARIS-Sheffield/imoco_recon and https://github.com/POLARIS-Sheffield/MoCoLoR 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2024 
Open Source License? Yes  
Impact Use in ongoing studies and future publications. 
URL https://github.com/POLARIS-Sheffield/imoco_recon
 
Title Sheffield Spin tec Polarised imaging systems 
Description Xenon polariser UKCA certified and commercially available and sold to several sites 
Type Of Technology Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering 
Year Produced 2026 
Impact Installation in several new sites underway 
 
Title Sheffield lung imaging toolkit 
Description Graphic use interface for qualitative lung imaging 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2016 
Open Source License? Yes  
Impact Transfer to sites in Newcastle, Aarhus and Columbia university New York 
 
Title Sheffield/GE Healthcare clinical lung MRI protocols for download 
Description User interface to download Sheffield developed and tested clincial lung MRI protocols for GE MRI scanners 
Type Of Technology New/Improved Technique/Technology 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact Downloads form around the world 
URL https://polaris-sheffield.github.io/sheffield-lung-protocol/
 
Title xenon polariser and RF coils for lung MRI 
Description Xenon MRI hardware 
Type Of Technology New/Improved Technique/Technology 
Year Produced 2012 
Impact New lung imaging technology 
 
Company Name Sheffield Spin Tec Ltd 
Description Sheffield Spin Tec Ltd - xenon MRI technology company incorporated 
Year Established 2026 
Impact Polarisers installed in new sites in UK
 
Description Instagram post from @drsermedmezher relating to the UKRI article 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Instagram post from @drsermedmezher that relates to the article UKRI posted:
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2026
URL https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVYXJEjDA5D/
 
Description Mention in UKRI article relating to Breakthrough in scans for children's lungs 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Article published by the UKRI where our paediatric lung imaging featured as part of the article.
This led to a social media influencer doing a piece on this as well.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2026
URL https://www.ukri.org/news-and-events/lives-and-livelihoods/health/safer-scans-for-childrens-lungs/
 
Description Plenary Invited speaker 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Plenary talk at the British Chapter ISMRM meeting in Aberdeen
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Speaker at the ERS/ESPR Academy of Paediatric Chest Imaging 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Gave a talk entitled 'The lung and MRI technology: what you need to understand about the combination' to 58 participants (paediatritians/radiologists/researchers) from 20 different countries and participated in discussions / informal interactions about the use of MRI in children during a 2 day workshop in Rotterdam on paediatric chest imaging.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.ersnet.org/events/academy-of-paediatric-chest-imaging/
 
Description Speakers at xenon clinical trials meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact J Wild and T Schirmer both spoek at the xenon clinical trials meeting Miami, Fl
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.129xectc.org/new-page-1