Magnetic Insight Inc, a developer of innovative diagnostic imaging technologies, announced a collaboration with the Stanford School of Medicine around magnetic particle imaging for solving challenges in cell therapy and vascular imaging with magnetic particle imaging.

Christopher Contag, PhD, professor of pediatrics, radiology, bioengineering and of microbiology & immunology, will lead an effort to better understand early disease states in cancer and new therapeutic paths. Max Wintermark MD, professor of radiology and chief of neuroradiology at Stanford Health Care will also utilise the new imaging technology to perform quantitative cerebral perfusion and vascular studies in a variety of disease states, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain cancer, with the goal to eventually improve diagnosis and care in patients affected with these conditions.

The collaboration will focus on novel methods involving magnetic particle imaging to track cells in vivo to study early and minimal residue disease states of cancer; develop therapies targeting breast tumors, quantitative imaging of cerebral vessels and perfusion, and of permeability of the blood brain barrier in healthy and disease states; study inflammation response in stroke, traumatic brain injury and tumor.

The Momentum Imaging system will be used in combination with Stanford’s capabilities in optical, nuclear, CT and MRI imaging systems at the Clark Center. “We are excited to break new ground with magnetic particle imaging so that we can better understand early cancer biology with the goal of developing personalized therapeutic strategies. Magnetic particle imaging has the potential to offer unique insight into biological events unachievable with current technologies. We are fortunate to collaborate with Stanford Medicine with new technologies to solve critical medical issues of our time,” said Anna Christensen, president & CEO of Magnetic Insight.