Fraunhofer gammaSTAR Platform and SpinIt Project Enable Faster Clinical Adoption of Advanced MRI Technologies

© Fraunhofer MEVIS
gammaSTAR: A vendor‑neutral MRI framework to develop, simulate, and reconstruct sequences, speeding up development and ensuring consistent imaging across scanner models.

(IN BRIEF) Fraunhofer is developing the gammaSTAR software platform and SpinIt project to accelerate the transfer of innovative MRI technologies into clinical routine use. The vendor-neutral gammaSTAR platform allows researchers to develop and test MR sequences independently of scanner manufacturers and run them on different MRI systems using standardized interfaces. The SpinIt project focuses on creating a structured certification pathway that will enable MR sequences developed by research groups and start-ups to be approved as medical devices. Supported by Siemens Healthineers, the project also includes extensive testing and quality assurance to ensure safe and reliable imaging and reconstruction. The approach could significantly shorten MRI examination times, improve patient comfort and enable more efficient clinical workflows while also simplifying multicenter clinical studies through standardized imaging protocols.

(PRESS RELEASE) MUNICH, 3-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Fraunhofer is advancing the clinical adoption of innovative magnetic resonance imaging technologies through its gammaSTAR software platform and the SpinIt project. Developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS in Bremen, these initiatives aim to accelerate the transition of new MRI sequence technologies from research laboratories into everyday clinical practice while ensuring consistent quality and regulatory compliance.

Magnetic resonance imaging is one of the most widely used diagnostic imaging techniques in modern medicine, and its performance depends heavily on the MR sequences that control scanner operations. These sequences determine how radiofrequency pulses are transmitted, how magnetic fields are switched and how signals are captured during scanning. Precise coordination of these processes is required to produce high-quality images and reliable diagnostic results. Although advanced MR sequences can significantly shorten examination times and improve image quality, the path from research innovation to clinical implementation is often slowed by technical and regulatory challenges.

The gammaSTAR platform addresses these limitations by providing a manufacturer-independent framework for the development, simulation and reconstruction of MR sequences. Researchers can create and test sequences without relying on proprietary programming environments from scanner manufacturers. Standardized interfaces allow the sequences to run on different MRI systems, ensuring consistent imaging performance across multiple devices.

New MR sequences developed using gammaSTAR have the potential to greatly improve clinical workflows. One important area of development involves faster scanning techniques that could reduce examination times from approximately thirty minutes to only a few minutes. Shorter scan durations would improve patient comfort by reducing the time spent inside the MRI scanner while allowing healthcare providers to use imaging equipment more efficiently.

Despite these advantages, innovative MR sequences have traditionally been implemented within manufacturer-specific environments and approved together with dedicated hardware systems. This has made it difficult for independent developers to bring new approaches into clinical use. The SpinIt project was launched to overcome this obstacle by establishing a structured pathway for certifying MR sequences as medical devices and enabling their use across multiple MRI platforms.

SpinIt is funded through the EXIST program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and supports research groups and start-ups seeking regulatory approval for new MRI technologies. The project builds on the gammaSTAR platform by further developing its quality assurance and documentation capabilities in order to meet certification requirements. The goal is to create a standardized and reproducible process that allows MR sequences developed in research environments to be approved for clinical use.

A central role in the project is played by industry partner Siemens Healthineers, which provides a certified interface that enables external software solutions to be integrated into MRI systems. This interface allows MR sequences developed outside the manufacturer’s environment to be approved and used in clinical routine, creating regulated access for third-party developers.

Extensive testing and validation are essential to ensure safety and reliability. Researchers simulate MR sequences and carefully verify that imaging parameters and spatial orientation are correct, since even minor errors could result in incorrect image interpretation. The validation process includes both the acquisition sequences and the reconstruction algorithms that convert raw measurement data into clinically usable images. Because imaging and reconstruction are closely interconnected, both components must undergo comprehensive testing and certification.

The gammaSTAR and SpinIt approach also offers significant advantages for multicenter clinical studies. Currently, comparable imaging datasets often require identical MRI systems or extensive protocol coordination across sites, which can be time-consuming and costly. Manufacturer-independent sequences combined with standardized reconstruction methods would allow different MRI systems to produce more consistent results, improving data comparability and reducing preparation efforts.

At the conclusion of the 18-month EXIST funding period, the project team will evaluate whether SpinIt should be developed into a spin-off company offering certification and quality assurance services for MR sequences. The immediate objective is to make innovative MRI technologies more accessible for clinical use, enabling patients, clinicians and researchers to benefit more quickly from advances in medical imaging.

Media Contact:

Bianka Hofmann
Contact Science Engagement and Press & Media Work
Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS
Max-von-Laue-Str. 2
28359 Bremen
Phone +49 421 17879 2151

SOURCE: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft