16 NOV 2020 - 15:09 CET

The γMRI project, with participation of GFN, has been selected for fundinginthe last call (outcome October 2020, https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/news/european-innovation-council-invests-%E2%82%AC191-million-58-game-changing-technologies-0) of the openFET program of the EU. With a budget of 3.4 Million euros, this project will develop a clinical molecular imaging device based on the physical principle of anisotropic gamma emission from hyperpolarised metastable xenon. γMRI is a game-changer imaging technology, combining the high sensitivity of gamma ray detection and the high resolution and flexibility of MRI, bringing down by multiple fold the cost of molecular imaging. Researchers at IPARCOS will play a key role in the design and development of the gamma detection system and image reconstruction.

The γMRI project will be carried out by 7 members, from four countries, three EU member states, one associated country and one international organisation. The contribution of IPARCOS is coordinated from the Nuclear Physics Group (GFN, LM Fraile). The openFET program of the EU (now Pathfinder Open Pilot) is extremely competitive, seeking for the highest risk / highest benefit proposals. After four years of the openFET action, less than 10% of the submitted proposals have been chosen for funding. The latest call has selected 58 projects out of 902 applications.

PARTNERS: HAUTE ÉCOLE SPÉCIALISÉE DE SUISSE OCCIDENTAL, UNIVERSITÉ DE GENEVE, UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID, EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH, KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN, TECNOLOGIAS AVANZADAS INSPIRALIA