Hyper-Xe
Research type
Research Study
Full title
MRI research using hyperpolarized Xenon gas: pre-study technical investigations involving healthy volunteers
IRAS ID
352677
Contact name
Ferdia Gallagher
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
A research team at the University of Cambridge, in partnership with CUH NHS Foundation Trust and led by Prof. Ferdia Gallagher, is planning a study using MRI to image healthy volunteers after they inhale xenon gas as a contrast agent. This gas must first be magnetically polarised to create hyperpolarised xenon (HP Xe), enabling it to produce high-quality images. These images are expected to provide valuable insights into lung function, including ventilation, blood flow (perfusion), gas diffusion, and lung microstructure, aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of various lung conditions.
The hyperpolariser will be housed at the University of Cambridge and purchased from the University of Sheffield. The University of Cambridge will be the owners of the device and responsible for its management and maintenance. Unlike traditional imaging methods like CT or X-rays, which use ionising radiation, HP Xe MRI offers a safer alternative by directly assessing lung functionality without using ionising radiation. This includes imaging of regional ventilation and gas exchange pathways, areas where nuclear medicine scans are limited due to low spatial resolution and reliance on radiation.
Xenon’s role in medical imaging extends beyond MRI; it has also been used in CT scans for lung ventilation and brain perfusion studies due to its solubility in blood. However, hyperpolarised xenon MRI provides similar benefits without the radiation risks, making it particularly suitable for healthy volunteers or long-term studies.
The study's objective is to optimise MRI equipment, including software and hardware like acquisition coils, to capture high-quality spectra and images from volunteers inhaling small amounts of HP Xe gas. This research could improve diagnostic imaging techniques and expand applications of HP Xe MRI.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/0472
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jun 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion