Tackling COPD with New MRI Technology

A unique, noninvasive magnetic imaging (MRI) tool has the potential to considerably improve the treatment of lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, cystic fibrosis, and emphysema as well as an aid for cancer specialists and neuroscientists.

The technology is being developed by the University of Manchester (UK) spinout company Bioxydyn (Manchester, UK). COPD is the world's 3rd biggest killer but Bioxydyn's diagnostic imaging technologies have the potential to transform the way in which lung disease is diagnosed and monitored by providing noninvasive regional assessments of lung ventilation/perfusion ratio (V/Q) and measures of changes in pulmonary vascular function.

Bioxydyn is also developing powerful MRI-based oncology tools for quantifying tumor oxygenation and oxygen metabolism. By providing unique noninvasive characterization of the oxygenation status of tumors, its technologies will aid therapeutic decision making and provide additional information for evaluating the response of tumors to intervention.

Commenting on the potential for this new technology Prof. Geoff Parker, Bioxydyn director said, "There currently simply isn't an inexpensive or practical 3D [three-dimensional] lung imaging technique available that can capture the structure and function of the lung, so we feel we've got something the market will want quickly. Lung diseases and disorders are so commonplace, with COPD affecting 80 million people and causing three million deaths worldwide each year. We've some exciting interest from major pharmaceutical players, so the race is on to develop our products and engage with the market to bring this to a commercial reality as soon as possible.”

Prof. Parker who is also director of the University of Manchester's Biomedical Imaging Institute (UK), has been named by the Institute of Public Policy Research (London, UK) as one of 50 "Northern Lights” in recognition of his work with Bioxydyn.

Related Links:
Bioxydyn
University of Manchester's Biomedical Imaging Institute