Revolutionizing Paediatric Lung Diagnostics with Radiation-Free MRI

The dawn of safer children's lung scans marks a pivotal advancement in paediatric respiratory care, spearheaded by researchers at the University of Sheffield. This UKRI-funded breakthrough leverages hyperpolarised xenon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a non-invasive technology that eliminates radiation risks associated with traditional computed tomography (CT) scans. For children suffering from conditions like asthma, cystic fibrosis, and bronchiectasis, this innovation promises earlier detection, precise monitoring, and tailored treatments without the cumulative dangers of ionising radiation.

Respiratory diseases affect one in five people in England and rank as the third leading cause of death, costing the National Health Service (NHS) over £6 billion annually. In children under five, early diagnosis is particularly challenging due to their inability to perform standard breathing tests. Conventional imaging methods like chest X-rays and CT scans expose young patients to radiation, which poses long-term risks such as increased cancer incidence with repeated exposures. This new technology addresses these gaps head-on, offering a safe, repeatable alternative that visualises lung ventilation and function in exquisite detail.

Understanding Paediatric Lung Conditions in the UK Context

Lung diseases in children, including cystic fibrosis (CF)—affecting over 10,000 people in the UK—and severe asthma, often manifest subtly in small airways and lung membranes. Bronchiectasis, a condition causing widened airways and mucus buildup, impacts young lives profoundly, leading to frequent hospitalisations and activity restrictions. In the UK, where childhood asthma prevalence stands at around 10%, timely intervention is crucial to prevent irreversible damage.

Current diagnostic tools fall short: spirometry requires cooperation that's unrealistic for infants, while CT scans, though detailed, deliver radiation doses equivalent to hundreds of chest X-rays in a single session. Cumulative exposure heightens lifetime cancer risk by up to 1-2% per scan in children, prompting clinicians to limit their use. This UKRI-funded non-invasive imaging breakthrough fills this void, enabling radiation-free assessments that track disease progression and therapy responses effectively.

• Asthma: Identifies ventilation defects invisible to routine tests.
• Cystic fibrosis: Monitors personalised drug efficacy, critical as treatments vary per child.
• Bronchiectasis: Reveals structural changes for proactive management.

Explore opportunities in research jobs driving such innovations at UK universities.

How Hyperpolarised Xenon MRI Works: A Step-by-Step Breakdown

This cutting-edge technology, known as POLARIS MRI, transforms lung imaging through hyperpolarised xenon-129 gas. Here's the process:

1. Hyperpolarisation: Xenon gas is magnetised outside the scanner using lasers and spin-exchange optical pumping, aligning atomic nuclei for a strong MRI signal.
2. Inhalation: The patient inhales the odourless, harmless gas mixed with oxygen.
3. Breath-Hold: For 5-15 seconds, the scanner captures images as xenon distributes in ventilated lung regions and dissolves into blood for gas exchange assessment.
4. Exhalation: Gas is breathed out; structural proton MRI complements functional data.
5. AI Reconstruction: In low-field versions, AI algorithms, trained on high-field datasets, enhance image quality for rapid, high-resolution outputs.

Scans last minutes, MHRA-approved for NHS use, and detect abnormalities at the alveoli-capillary level undetected by CT.

Unlike proton MRI, which sees lungs as signal voids, xenon makes airspaces visible, revolutionising diagnostics.

The University of Sheffield's Pioneering Role

At the heart of this safer children's lung scans initiative is the University of Sheffield's Insigneo Institute for in silico Medicine, a global leader in imaging research. The POLARIS (Pulmonary Lung and Respiratory Imaging Sheffield) group has spent over a decade refining this tech, from initial feasibility studies in 2015 to clinical integration today.

The Insigneo Institute, co-directed by Professor Jim Wild, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between engineers, physicists, and clinicians. Recent milestones include a portable xenon hyperpolariser for multicentre trials and integration with low-field MRI via GE HealthCare partnership. This work builds on UK legacies like Sir Peter Mansfield's Nobel-winning MRI advancements.

Sheffield's ecosystem, bolstered by UKRI investments, positions it as a hub for translational research. Aspiring researchers can find roles in research assistant jobs here, advancing paediatric health.

Key Researchers Driving the UKRI-Funded Breakthrough

Professor Jim Wild, Professor of Magnetic Resonance Physics, leads the charge. Motivated by his brother's childhood asthma battles, Wild's team—including Dr Neil Stewart (infant lung imaging expert), Dr Helen Marshall (hyperpolarised gas applications), and Dr Guilhem Collier—has published seminal works in journals like Physical Review Letters and the European Respiratory Journal.

Wild states: "This technology lets doctors spot problems and start treatments sooner... As a child, my brother was very poorly with asthma... With this new imaging, doctors will hopefully spot and treat lung conditions earlier." Their efforts have secured EPSRC-MRC funding, enabling MHRA trials.

• Neil Stewart: Optimising MRI for neonatal/infant lungs.
• Helen Marshall: Clinical translation since 2009.
• Team publications: Over 20 on xenon MRI, cited globally.

Careers in such teams? Check lecturer jobs in medical physics.

Photo by Jan Kopřiva on Unsplash

UKRI Funding and Strategic Partnerships

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) champions this via an EPSRC Prosperity Partnership grant—part of £149 million across 19 academic-industry collaborations. Jointly funded by EPSRC and MRC, it pairs Sheffield with GE HealthCare, unveiled September 8, 2025, at Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

Highlighted in UKRI's "Shaped in Sheffield" campaign (launched March 2, 2026), it underscores public investment's impact. Partnerships extend to pharma giants like AstraZeneca and GSK for drug trials, and NHS trusts for bedside implementation.

EPSRC's Professor Charlotte Deane notes: "This MRI scanner technology is a great example of the impact of the Prosperity Partnerships." Such funding fuels higher ed research ecosystems.

Real-World Case Studies and Clinical Impact

Five-year-old Zoe's story exemplifies transformation. Diagnosed with bronchiectasis via xenon MRI at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, scans pre- and post-treatment revealed physiotherapy's efficacy, averting invasive IV antibiotics via chest ports. Her mother Sarah shares: "The results guided us... Zoe was spared unnecessary procedures... We now have a clearer picture of how Zoe’s lungs are functioning."

In CF clinics, it personalises therapies amid £100,000+ annual drug costs per patient. For asthma, it unveils gas exchange flaws, guiding interventions. Ongoing trials like HeXeRT (helium/xenon in radiotherapy) and NIMROD (neonatal imaging) expand scope.

Addressing NHS Pressures and Global Equity

With NHS MRI waiting lists exceeding months and respiratory diagnostics strained, low-field scanners—smaller, helium-free, AI-enhanced—promise community deployment. Professor Wild envisions: "Smaller scanners in local health centres... speeding up diagnosis." This cuts costs, travel, and emissions, aiding low-resource settings.

Trials commence with 60 volunteers for normative data, paving patient studies. Broader applications loom for oncology and neurology. For UK higher ed, it boosts academic CVs in translational research.

Future Outlook: Trials, Commercialisation, and Research Careers

MHRA trials at Royal Hallamshire advance to patients post-volunteers. UKRI backs portable hyperpolarisers and contrast agent studies. Fundraising like Sheffield's Big Walk accelerates rollout.

In higher education, this exemplifies UKRI's role in fostering PhD/postdoc opportunities in MRI physics and paediatric imaging. Institutions like Sheffield seek talent via postdoc jobs and UK university positions.

Implications for Higher Education and Academic Innovation

This breakthrough underscores universities' pivotal role in health R&D. Sheffield's model—integrating Insigneo with NHS/pharma—yields real-world impact, attracting funding and talent. UKRI's £9bn annual budget fuels such hubs, positioning UK higher ed globally.

Challenges persist: scaling production, clinician training, equity access. Solutions include interdisciplinary programmes and policy advocacy. For professionals, higher ed career advice on imaging fields is invaluable.

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Photo by Steward Masweneng on Unsplash

Conclusion: Brighter Futures for Young Lungs

The UKRI-funded safer children's lung scans herald a radiation-free era in paediatric care, courtesy of University of Sheffield ingenuity. By enabling precise, repeatable imaging, it empowers earlier interventions, better outcomes, and NHS efficiencies. As trials progress, this technology promises to reshape respiratory medicine.

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