Low-field MRI breakthrough could reshape treatment for aggressive brain tumours
In a bold step that could change how doctors treat one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer, scientists in Scotland are preparing to use a brand-new imaging technology on glioblastoma patients—marking a global first.
Researchers at the University of Aberdeen, working with NHS Grampian, have secured £350,000 in funding from the Scottish Government to begin human testing of field cycling imaging (FCI)—a low-field MRI spin-off they believe can detect cancer in ways never seen before.
A new eye inside the brain
Glioblastoma isn’t a name that gets thrown around lightly. It’s aggressive, swift, and cruel. Each year, over 3,000 people in the UK are hit with this diagnosis. And for most of them, the prognosis is bleak—more than half don’t survive beyond 15 months, even after surgery, radiation, and heavy chemo.
For those doctors and families, every second and every image counts. That’s where FCI comes in.
Unlike standard MRI machines, FCI doesn’t blast tissue with a constant high magnetic field. Instead, it cycles the magnetic field strength during scanning. That means the scanner can pick up on subtle molecular signatures that conventional MRI just misses.
In plain terms? It sees stuff others can’t.
Built in Aberdeen, breaking barriers everywhere
The first human scans using FCI technology are slated to begin in Scotland within months. It’s the result of over a decade of work by physicists and engineers at the University of Aberdeen, home to the UK’s very first MRI scanner back in the 1980s.
One of the project’s leaders, Professor David Lurie, has been pushing FCI from drawing board to hospital floor. And he’s excited.
“There’s nothing else like it. We can essentially ‘tune in’ to specific molecular activity inside tissues,” he said in a statement. “That means more accurate diagnoses, better monitoring—and potentially, faster treatment decisions.”
From breast cancer to brain: the evidence so far
FCI isn’t starting from scratch. In fact, it’s already shown promise in a couple of high-stakes areas:
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It’s been used to detect early-stage breast cancer, spotting abnormalities in tissue composition before visible lumps appear.
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It’s also been tested in stroke patients, where it picked up signs of brain damage hours before traditional scans.
These early wins gave researchers the confidence to pivot the tech toward glioblastoma.
The big question now? Can it track how the tumour spreads or responds to treatment in real time. That’s something no other scanner has quite nailed down yet.
What makes FCI different?
To understand what sets FCI apart, here’s a basic breakdown of MRI tech:
| Feature | Traditional MRI | Field Cycling Imaging (FCI) |
|---|---|---|
| Magnetic Field | Constant, high-field | Varies during scan |
| Imaging Focus | Anatomy-focused | Tissue composition & molecules |
| Cost & Complexity | Expensive, heavy build | Simpler, smaller machines |
| Sensitivity | Good for big changes | Better for subtle differences |
FCI machines are smaller, cheaper to produce, and—at least on paper—more versatile.
That’s huge for rural hospitals or developing countries, where high-field MRI access is limited or nonexistent.
Hope, hype, and hurdles ahead
Now, no one’s saying FCI is a miracle tool. Not yet.
Like any new tech, it has its skeptics. Imaging experts have raised concerns over resolution, scan speed, and data interpretation. It’s one thing to see new signals—it’s another to make sense of them clinically.
But those involved in the trials insist they’re not getting ahead of themselves.
“We’re cautiously optimistic,” said Dr. Jane Andrews, a consultant oncologist at NHS Grampian. “If FCI gives us a new way to track tumour behavior day-to-day, even week-to-week, that’s a big step forward. We could adjust treatments faster, stop what’s not working, and maybe buy patients more time.”
And let’s face it—time is the most precious currency in glioblastoma care.
How soon could this reach patients?
If initial trials are successful, the roadmap gets interesting. By 2026, the team hopes to publish data from the first glioblastoma cohort. If that data’s strong enough, it could unlock larger funding pots from UK research councils or EU health partnerships.
That could mean more scanners built, more hospitals testing, and, eventually, frontline integration.
But right now, the scanner sits quietly in a lab in Aberdeen, waiting for its moment.
One sentence.
Why this matters beyond the UK
While the headlines focus on Scotland, global health watchers are keeping a close eye. If FCI can be miniaturised and scaled affordably, it could find use in low-income countries where MRI access is nearly zero.
Imagine detecting tumours in rural clinics without a truck-sized machine and a six-figure price tag. That’s the long game.
For now, it’s about one scanner, a handful of researchers, and a lot of hope.
And if they’re right—if this quiet revolution actually works—brain cancer might finally have something new to reckon with.
