The group is developing a novel Magnetic Resonance (MR) contrast agent based on hyperpolarized water. The proposed method can enhance the signal 10,000-fold and thereby enable coronary angiography within a single cardiac cycle; something which is not currently possible with MR. Today, contrast agents are based on Gadolinium (Gd) that change the contrast in the image, but does not increase the available signal. Therefore only moderate improvement in image quality has been seen over past many years. Water would be the ultimate contrast agent with minimal safety concerns.

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