Respiratory

Quantitative MRI biomarkers for respiratory function and lung disease studies.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the lung showing passage of contrast agent through the pulmonary vasculature.

Bioxydyn offers imaging biomarkers for respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease (ILD) and COPD. We have been at the forefront of the development and deployment of quantitative MRI methods for assessing lung disease. Our focus is on the use of proton MRI methods that can be deployed on most hospital MRI scanners without substantial investment in specialist hardware or consumables.

Ventilation maps from coronal slices in a cystic fibrosis patient — Ventilation maps from different coronal slices in an adult cystic fibrosis patient. Blue indicates regions receiving oxygen; black regions indicate ventilation defects.

Oxygen-enhanced MRI (OE-MRI) is a non-invasive and non-ionising imaging method that uses oxygen as an MR imaging agent, delivered to the patient in the scanner. OE-MRI can be performed on most hospital scanners.

Lung OE-MRI monitors the delivery of oxygen to a patient's lungs. The acquired quantitative imaging biomarkers relate to regional lung ventilation and gas diffusion. Bioxydyn has extensive experience deploying OE-MRI in diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), ILD, lung cancer, and asthma.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the lung showing passage of contrast agent through the pulmonary vasculature.

Bioxydyn is also a leader in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in the lung, providing information on lung perfusion and other microvascular functions, including endothelial permeability and leakage space, in diseases such as pulmonary embolism, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease and COPD.

Bioxydyn also provides imaging biomarkers of lung ventilation based on the respiratory motion of the lung over time. These measurements provide ventilation-weighted imaging in a short scan without administration of gases or contrast agents.

Hyperpolarised xenon ventilation MRI parameter maps — Hyperpolarised ¹²⁹Xe ventilation MRI - example parameter maps.

In addition to conventional (proton) MRI, Bioxydyn provides services to support the use of hyperpolarised ¹²⁹Xe MRI in studies of lung function. Working with established academic partners, we offer services to support single- and multi-site ¹²⁹Xe studies investigating ventilation, gas transfer, and pulmonary microstructure.

Bioxydyn offers a range of imaging biomarkers of regional lung function for the assessment of treatment benefit and harm. All can be performed single- or multi-centre using a range of vendors' equipment. Bioxydyn's imaging methods have been validated in multiple studies, including as part of the Innovative Medicines Initiative TRISTAN project funded by the EU.