Accessible MRI

Project Information

AMRI

Grant agreement ID: 101189123

DOI

10.3030/101189123

EC signature date 20 November 2024

Start date 1 December 2024

End date 30 November 2026

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 2 499 999,00

Coordinated by

CHIPIRON
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AMRI (Accessible MRI)

Reporting period: 2024-12-01 to 2025-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a vital diagnostic tool, yet it remains inaccessible to a large majority of the global population due to high costs and heavy infrastructure requirements. Standard MRI scanners are massive, energy-intensive, and require specialized shielded rooms, creating significant bottlenecks even in developed healthcare systems.

The AMRI (Accessible MRI) project aims to democratize medical imaging by developing a breakthrough Ultra-Low-Field (ULF) MRI system. Our objective is to validate and commercialize a lightweight, plug-and-play scanner that can be installed in standard clinical settings without the constraints of traditional high-field machines. By enabling safe, comfortable, and affordable MRI at the point of care, AMRI seeks to facilitate earlier detection of pathologies and improve health equity across Europe, making advanced diagnostics available to underserved populations.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the first reporting period, the project focused on translating our proprietary technology into a functional integrated system. Key achievements include:

1.System Integration: We successfully assembled a complete prototype scanner that validates our unique hardware architecture. This platform allows for imaging without heavy magnetic shielding infrastructure.

2.Technological Validation: Significant progress was made in developing a highly sensitive detection chain capable of operating at ultra-low magnetic fields. We demonstrated the stability and performance of these core components in a laboratory environment.

3.Proof of Concept: The project achieved a major milestone by acquiring the first biological images with our prototype. These initial tests confirmed the system's ability to capture anatomical structures, validating the viability of our approach.

4.Clinical & Ethical Definition: We refined the clinical roadmap to focus on high-impact applications where accessibility is critical, while appointing an internal Ethics Advisor to ensure the highest standards of data protection and safety for future steps.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The AMRI project is advancing the state of the art by proving that diagnostic imaging is achievable at magnetic fields orders of magnitude lower than current standards, unlocking new possibilities for healthcare:

- Radical Accessibility: Unlike conventional scanners that require complex facility renovations, our system is designed to be deployed in standard medical rooms, bringing diagnostics closer to the patient.

- Sustainability: The technology represents a shift towards "green radiology" by significantly reducing power consumption and eliminating the reliance on scarce resources often used in traditional MRI cooling systems.

- Patient-Centric Design: The system features an open and quiet architecture, offering a much more comfortable experience for patients who may be anxious, claustrophobic, or sensitive to the loud noise of standard MRI machines.