Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive technology that generates high-resolution images of tissues and organs. Since its first use on a human being, over 40 years ago, it has become instrumental in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease and injury. Functional MRI, invented in 1991, is based on the same principles but images metabolic activity indirectly via changes in blood flow. Its use has led to remarkable discoveries in biomedical research. Now, PRIMOGAIA is exploiting MRI technology to map and quantify enzyme activity in pathological tissue. Enzymes play critical roles in cellular metabolism and are already valuable biomarkers of pathology in blood tests. Now, their high-resolution spatial localisation in tissues will significantly enhance disease detection and monitoring.
PrimoGaia brings together an interdisciplinary consortium of research teams from 4 academics: Aix-Marseille University, Université de Mons, Universitá Torino (reagents), CNRS Bordeaux (EPR unit, sequences, biology); Fraunhofer Institute (Physics) and 2 companies: Stelar (magnetic unit) and Pure Devices an innovative SME (MRI instrumentation).

This project aims at developing innovative biocompatible sensors able to monitor the status of tissue implants in vivo, at human scale. These sensors are aimed at reporting on the degradation of the scaffold and on the overall transplanted cells conditions. They represent a completely new class of MRI contrast agents that display remarkable relaxation effects on tissue water protons. Their detection requires the acquisition of images at variable magnetic field strength as provided by Fast Field Cycling MRI (FFCMRI) scanners.
Consortium: University of Torino and University of Aberdeen.