Preclinical imaging system aids translational research

02-Nov-2016 - Last updated on 02-Nov-2016 at 15:44 GMT

MR Solution’s – MRS 3017 – 3T cryogen-free MRI preclinical scanner will help advance cancer research with a focus on malignant brain tumors. (Image: MR Solutions)

Related tags Cancer

The NORLUX Neuro-Oncology Laboratory has installed MR Solutions’ preclinical scanner to advance cancer research and translation to clinical applications.

As part of the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), the laboratory will mainly use the system for oncology research projects, although it will also be used by researchers from the Department of Infection and Immunity working in neuro-degenerative and infectious disease areas.

Additionally, the system is available to other research groups across the greater Luxembourg region.

Dr Olivier Keunen, who is responsible for the in-vivo imaging facilities at the Luxembourg Institute of Health with MR Solutions’ 3T MRI preclinical imaging system. (Image: MR Solutions)

“We’ve stepped into the market where, traditionally, to carry out preclinical research you would have to invest upwards of a million or two million pounds to carry out this research,” Richard Taylor, UK sales manager at MR Solutions told us.

“We reduced the costs which is now allowing more facilities to carry out preclinical research,” he added.

“This allows more and more opportunity for pharma companies to economically do translational research and to take the results of that to the clinical market.”

According to the company, the MRS 3017 - 3T cryogen-free MRI preclinical scanner can operate at various clinical field strengths for an easier translation to clinical applications. Supplementary molecular imaging capabilities, such as PET or SPECT, can also be added to the system in the future.

As Taylor explained, “this means the whole package of carrying out preclinical research becomes a lot more flexible and a lot easier and again with less investment and less physical space.”