About the Xe MRI Clinical Trials Consortium

A Novel, Sensitive Measure

Pulmonary disease is among the leading causes of mortality globally. Clinical research of pulmonary disease requires the use of novel, noninvasive and sensitive methodologies to characterize disease types, predict future health outcomes, and inform clinical treatment plans. Such methodology is especially critical for vulnerable patient populations, such as pediatrics. Recent developments in the field of hyperpolarized gas MR imaging (particularly 129Xe) indicate that the method is among the most sensitive measures available for assessing changes in lung health, positioning it as a transformative tool for pulmonary research moving forward.

The Xe MRI Clinical Trials Consortium was established in 2015 as a network of researchers and clinicians with expertise in hyperpolarized gas imaging to facilitate clinical research, education, and awareness of the capabilities of 129Xe MRI. We are comprised of 14 centers with established in-vivo Xe MRI capabilities. Another seven centers are in the process of developing their Xe MRI programs and becoming active sites within the Consortium. Our reach extends beyond three continents and six countries. As a Consortium, we work cooperatively to execute multi-center clinical trials that address the most pressing scientific questions related to lung health.

The purpose of this cooperative research consortium is to facilitate clinical research,
education, and awareness of the capabilities of Xe MRI through support for:

• Collaborative clinical research in both adult and pediatric lung diseases, including
  longitudinal studies of individuals with lung disease, cross sectional clinical studies,
  phase one, two, and three trials, and/or pilot and demonstration projects.
  

• Training of scientific and clinical investigators in hyperpolarized gas research.
  

• Providing a test bed for novel approaches and technologies for biomarkers and image
  guided interventions.
  

• Offering a platform for sharing protocols, MRI sequences, and image analysis algorithms for the associated institutions. 
  

• Developing and maintaining an international lung MRI database to serve as a centralized repository for shared imaging data, with the goal of enhancing standardization and harmonization across all Consortium sites.
  

• Working collaboratively with private industry where appropriate to achieve scientific goals.
  

Each of the individual Clinical Research Centers is comprised of basic and clinical investigators, institutions, CTSAs, and relevant organizations, for the utilization of hyperpolarized gases in translational research.

In addition to the stated purpose above, we are dedicated to assisting clinical research centers create and scale Xe MRI programs at their institutions. Please click the buttons below if you are interested in getting involved or learning more.

Click here to contact us and speak with an expert in hyperpolarized gas imaging. We are always happy to answer questions!