GLASGOW FIRMS HELP ALZHEIMER RESEARCHERS TAKE A LEAP FORWARD WITH NEW SCANNER TECHNOLOGY

For immediate release: 15 September 2025

 

GLASGOW FIRMS HELP ALZHEIMER RESEARCHERS TAKE A LEAP FORWARD WITH NEW SCANNER TECHNOLOGY

 

Glasgow-based companies MR CoilTech and Wideblue are collaborating with the University of Glasgow on developing advanced MRI scanning technology which has the potential to enhance research into the understanding and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Recently a new range of monoclonal anti-body drugs have been introduced which are intended to slow the progress of the disease by targeting clumps of the protein beta-amyloid which form plaques in the patient’s brain; plaques are a characteristic sign of Alzheimer’s disease. The new head coil MRI scanner technology may provide super-fine resolution images which can potentially identify these plaques and monitor effectiveness of treatment. The new technology could monitor the progress of patients taking these drugs, identify side effects and provide data on which patients could potentially benefit the most from these medications.

 

The University of Glasgow developed the first prototype of the head coil and Wideblue, a leading medical device product consultancy has worked on design modifications to make the head coil more comfortable for patient use. MR CoilTech are now responsible for commercialisation and manufacturing of the device. Grant funding for the application to Alzheimer’s disease has recently been provided by Innovate UK and InnoSuisse. Other project partners include medical imaging specialist Gold Standard Phantoms (who provide calibration products), Zurich-based Skope AG (another MRI innovation company) and Hopital Universitaire de Geneve.

 

 

Dr Euan McBrearty, Head of Commercial and Innovation at Wideblue said: “This project aims to develop advanced new MRI brain imaging equipment to provide much more data on the composition of the brain by providing unprecedented levels of detail. The hardware and software tools developed in this project have a clear purpose: to advance research in this field, enhance our understanding of the disease, and enable early detection. By allowing the safe use of new drugs that slow disease progression, the project directly contributes to improving patients' well-being.

 

It has been great collaborating with MR CoilTech, the University of Glasgow and the other technical and clinical partners on this project. MR Coiltech, University of Glasgow, the NHS and Wideblue were recognised in the 2025 Scottish Life Sciences awards winning the Innovative Collaboration Award Category. The resulting advanced MRI coil will aim to provide best possible tools for Alzheimers researchers to fully investigate the safe and effective use of these new drugs.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For further information:

 

www.wide-blue.com

 

www.mr-coiltech.co.uk

 

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About Wideblue

 

For more than 18 years, Wideblue has been at the forefront of medical device design using its skills in product design, mechanical, electronic and software design, physics, optics and photonics to help its clients turn their ideas into award-winning devices.

 

Clients include individuals, start-ups, technology research organisations, charities and social enterprises as well as global multinationals. Medical device projects have ranged from a personal capnometer and heated stretcher to a device for the early detection of sepsis and a low-cost ophthalmoscope.

 

For further information please visit www.wide-blue.com

 

Wideblue is part of the Pivot International group.

 

About Pivot International

 

Founded in Kansas City in 1972, Pivot International started as a product design and development engineering firm. It was one of the first U.S. product development firms to engage with global sourcing, opening a procurement office in Taiwan in 1985 and a manufacturing division in the Philippines in 1989. Pivot offers services in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, software design, industrial design, project management, contract manufacturing, electronic manufacturing services (EMS), prototyping, supply chain management, data management, business development, and regulatory compliance. Pivot has more than 49 years of expertise in the field of product development and manufacturing. Positioned as a world leader in outsourced product development and manufacturing, Pivot offers the seamless convenience of working with a U.S. company and the financial advantages of utilising its own in-house, offshore, tooling procurement and manufacturing

capabilities.

 

www.pivotint.com

 

About Innovate UK

Innovate UK drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas. Innovate UK connects businesses to the partners, customers and investors that can help them turn ideas into commercially successful products and services and business growth. Innovate UK funds business and research collaborations to accelerate innovation and drive business investment into R&D. Its support is available to businesses across all economic sectors, value chains and UK regions. Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation.

For more information visit www.innovateuk.ukri.org

 

Media Enquiries

 

Mike Reynolds

Integris Communications

M: +44(0)7748 635678

E: mike@integriscomms.co.uk

 

NB: Hi-res images available on request from Integris as above

 

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