At the World Molecular Imaging Conference, Professor Jan Henrik Ardenkjær Larsen from The Biomedical Engineering Group at DTU Elektro, was awarded the gold medal for his pioneering work in the field of DNP-induced hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used to visualize the inner body. The contrast provided between different soft tissues makes MRI useful for detailed imaging of the brain, muscles, heart and spine, for example, and to diagnose diseases in these organs.
Professor Ardenkjær-Larsen's research team was recognized for the introduction of new and novel hyperpolarizable agents with biological significance, and for advancing the applications of these agents for in vivo diagnosis in humans.
The Gold Medal Award committee of the World Molecular Imaging Society unanimously voted for awarding Professor Jan-Henrik Ardenkjær Larsen's research team the gold medal for their outstanding work.
Read more about the Biomedical Engineering Group's research
Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) is a preeminent hyperpolarization method, which is applicable to many MR active nuclei in a wide range of molecules. In order to achieve maximum spin polarization, it is necessary to operate in the solid state at low temperatures (≈ 1 K).
Dissolution-DNP is a further development of DNP, which permits rapid dissolution whilst retaining the high spin polarization achieved in the solid state. The resulting solution may be used in numerous modalities including real-time analysis of chemical reactions in vitro and metabolic imaging in vivo. Metabolic imaging is of particular utility in oncology due to differences in metabolism in healthy versus cancerous tissue.