Using chemistry to see the invisible

Potential for new types of NMR and MRI

The project will advance the signal strength of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by up to 100,000 times. 

Using a phenomenon called hyperpolarisation, where the radio signals of a sample are enhanced by huge factors, could lead to new types of NMR and MRI. Finding a way of just using a magnet and radio waves could avoid the need for operations or the use of damaging high-energy radiation.

Detecting cancer

The ability to detect certain types of cancer is just one potential outcome of the project. To do that, the advances being made will be able to detect a particular enzyme. This enzyme allows the cells to cut away from the tissue and float away in the bloodstream and metastasize. Allowing cancer to infect other parts of the body.

Professor Levitt is confident that by the end of the project they will be providing tools that can detect cancer in ways not possible before.

Advancing MRI signals has developed well for the team. To get to the point they're at now, they've  had to develop a much deeper understanding of some of the phenomena they are trying to exploit.

Some interesting and unexpected issues have come up and they've proved that some of the standard knowledge in the field is not correct. They are now focusing on optimising their hyperpolarised experiments.

It is now over halfway through the six-year, 2.76 million euro project. It's being funded by an advanced grant from the European Research Council, and is the second advanced grant Malcolm has won.