Medical imaging technology company Polarean Imaging plc (AIM: POLX), a leader in functional lung MRI, announced on Monday that it has entered into a new supply agreement with University of Virginia (UVA) Health to complete the implementation of full clinical hyperpolarised Xenon MRI capabilities.

The company said UVA Health, where the world's first human hyperpolarised Xenon MRI scan was performed, upgraded its two research-grade hyperpolarisers to clinical-grade systems from Polarean in 2024. The new agreement provides additional equipment required to enable routine clinical imaging in UVA Health's clinical facilities.

UVA Health's Hyperpolarized Xenon MRI Center has pioneered applications across asthma, cystic fibrosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Its research programme was recently boosted by a USD7.4m NIH grant to study lung transplant rejection and lung abnormalities in electronic cigarette users, aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

Polarean is advancing respiratory medicine with its FDA-approved hyperpolarised Xenon MRI inhaled contrast agent, XENOVIEW, enabling non-invasive, radiation-free functional imaging of the lungs. The company's fully integrated drug-device platform combines the proprietary Xenon gas blend, hyperpolarisation technology and clinical software to support modern respiratory imaging.