Breakthrough Imaging Innovation Earns Top Award for MR CoilTech in Scotland

Breakthrough Imaging Innovation Earns Top Award for MR CoilTech in Scotland

(IN BRIEF) MR CoilTech, a partner in the University of Glasgow’s Living Laboratory programme, has been awarded the Innovative Collaboration Award at the 2025 Scotland’s Life Sciences Awards. The award, which recognizes breakthrough partnerships that integrate industry, academic, and clinical expertise, highlights the collaborative development of an advanced RF head coil. This pioneering device, created in collaboration with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Wideblue Limited, delivers superior imaging resolution, signal quality, and ease of use. The project is part of a broader Coil Development initiative aimed at designing and clinically validating body-part-specific RF coils to enhance the diagnostic power of ultra-high-resolution 7 Tesla MRI. In addition to the head coil, neurovascular and prostate coils have been developed, with a spinal imaging coil under way. This milestone not only underscores MR CoilTech’s innovative capabilities but also aligns with the strategic goals of the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences to advance diagnostic imaging and improve patient care. Dr Shajan Gunamony, CEO of MR CoilTech and Head of MRI RF Engineering at the University of Glasgow, emphasized that this achievement is a significant indicator of the strength and potential of cross-sector partnerships in driving healthcare innovation.

(PRESS RELEASE) GLASGOW, 17-Mar-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of Glasgow’s Living Laboratory programme is delighted to announce that its partner, MR CoilTech, has been honoured with the Innovative Collaboration Award at the 2025 Scotland’s Life Sciences Awards. This accolade celebrates forward-thinking partnerships that unite industry, academia, and healthcare, driving commercial success through pioneering technologies, products, or services.

The awards ceremony, held on 13 March 2025, gathered industry trailblazers and innovators who are at the forefront of life sciences in Scotland. Various categories, including Innovation in Pharma Services & Drug Discovery and Innovation in Health Technology, highlighted transformative contributions across the sector. MR CoilTech’s achievement specifically recognizes the collaborative efforts that led to the development of its state-of-the-art radiofrequency (RF) head coil.

This breakthrough was achieved through a robust partnership among MR CoilTech, the University of Glasgow, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Wideblue Limited. By combining engineering innovation, rigorous research, and vital clinical insights, the team developed a next-generation RF head coil that offers exceptional imaging resolution, enhanced signal quality, and user-friendly operation. Through the Living Laboratory’s Coil Development project, this head coil has advanced to its next phase, paving the way for the design and clinical validation of body-part-specific RF coils. These advancements are set to extend the capabilities of ultra-high-resolution 7 Tesla (7T) MRI, significantly improving disease diagnosis and monitoring.

In addition to the head coil, the project has successfully constructed and is currently validating both a neurovascular (NV) coil and a prostate coil, with a spinal imaging coil already in development. Winning this award represents a significant milestone for MR CoilTech and reaffirms its strong partnership with the Living Laboratory, which is dedicated to advancing imaging solutions for enhanced diagnostic precision.

This innovative collaboration aligns with the ambitions of the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences to push the boundaries of advanced diagnostics and therapeutics. The development of these specialized RF coils has the potential to revolutionize disease prevention, early detection, and intervention, thereby supporting improved patient outcomes on a global scale.

Dr Shajan Gunamony, CEO of MR CoilTech and Head of MRI RF Engineering at the University of Glasgow, remarked, “We are incredibly grateful to receive the Innovative Collaboration Award, marking a major milestone for MR CoilTech. This achievement is a testament to the power of cross-sector partnerships in driving meaningful innovation. We are excited to advance our body-part-specific RF coil technology with the support of the University of Glasgow’s Living Laboratory programme. Our combined expertise is enabling unprecedented detail in diagnostic imaging, enhancing our understanding of diseases and improving the accuracy and accessibility of critical diagnoses for patients around the world.”

For further enquiries, please contact ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk.

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SOURCE: University of Glasgow