Polarean Imaging (POLX ) has received an order for a new Xenon MRI System from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. This is the world’s largest hospital dedicated exclusively to clinical research, and it is the first system to be purchased directly from Polarean by the NIH.
Since opening in 1953, the NIH Clinical Center has been recognised as a model research hospital. It delivers innovative therapy and high-quality patient care, treats rare and severe diseases, and trains clinician-scientists who set a high bar for biomedical research.
Polarean’s CEO Christopher von Jako, Ph.D, said: "The NIH Clinical Center is the nation's largest hospital devoted entirely to clinical research. It is a key resource for trials on rare diseases, experimental therapies, and cutting-edge medical research. The advantages of owning a clinical Xenon MRI system will allow for high performance polarization of Xenon for studies of innovative MRI techniques to better characterise lung disease.
"We are delighted to be working alongside Dr. Campbell-Washburn, a true pioneer in the lung imaging field, and her team, to conduct in-depth research on the most serious of respiratory conditions and find new ways to improve the lives of patients everywhere,” added von Jako.
Polarean is a leader in the field of hyperpolarisation science and has successfully developed the hyperpolarised Xenon MRI inhaled contrast agent, XENOVIEW®, which is now FDA-approved in the United States.
This drug-device platform encompasses the proprietary Xenon gas blend, gas hyperpolarisation system, as well as software and accessories, facilitating fully integrated modern respiratory imaging operations.
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An order from the NIH Clinical Center is a strong endorsement of Polarean’s hyperpolarised xenon MRI platform. Showcasing the full drug-device system at a flagship research hospital should lift visibility, accelerate clinical validation, and support wider US adoption with rising utilisation.