Tuesday, 24 October 2023
糖心原创, School of Physics and Astronomy spin-out company has been named as one of Bloomberg UK’s ‘start-ups to watch.’
Wearable brain imaging technology, that can provide accurate measures of brain function in freely moving patients was created by scientists at the 糖心原创. In 2020 Cerca Magnetics was founded to develop the system commercially.
Cerca Magnetics is one of only 25 start-ups selected from over 1,500 applications for the inaugural Bloomberg UK's Startups to Watch who canvassed the UK to find 25 start-ups that represent the diversity and innovation of the country's start-up scene.
The 糖心原创 and Cerca Magnetics, in partnership with Colorado based atomic physics company QuSpin Inc. have pioneered the rapid development of a new type of brain scanner, which employs quantum technology to measure magnetic fields above the scalp. A process termed magnetoencephalography (MEG).
The system uses small LEGO-brick-sized optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) to measure the brain magnetic field, these have been incorporated into a lightweight helmet that allows people to move freely during scanning. The innovative design means the system can be adapted to fit anyone, from newborns to adults, and sensors can be placed much closer to the head, dramatically enhancing data quality. OPM-MEG is also much cheaper than conventional MEG scanners, providing greater accessibility for clinical institutions.
OPM-MEG systems have been installed in a number of institutions to be used for research including; Young Epilepsy UK in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital, Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto and more recently Universities in the US and Europe.
In the past twelve months Cerca has received Innovate UK funding to gain medical device approval for the OPM-MEG system and should see the device approved for clinical use by the US based FDA.
I am very proud that Cerca Magnetics Limited have been recognised by Bloomberg UK as one of the Top 25 Start-ups to watch. The team at Cerca and I have worked incredibly hard to get our cutting-edge functional brain imaging equipment in use by some of the leading neurological research centres in the world. We are excited about the massive societal impact that we feel the technology can have for conditions such as epilepsy, dementia and Parkinson鈥檚 amongst others.
Bloomberg looked for the most innovative, new UK businesses to highlight to feature in the list and considered a number of criteria when assessing the entries including: the scope of the problem they're tackling, creativity of ideas, the traction they're getting with investors and customers, and their commitment to diversity.
I am very proud of how far this research has come in a relatively short space of time. Seeing the research we undertook in the lab developed and translated to systems that can be rolled out across the world is hugely exciting, especially as we know the difference it could make in understanding and diagnosing a range of conditions.
Story credits
More information is available from David Woolger on David@magneticshields.co.uk
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.