The HYPERMAG mission is to create a theoretical and experimental framework for hyperpolarization by the dissolution Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (dDNP) method.
We study the basic science behind hyperpolarization by dissolution Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (dDNP). The spin physics the solid state at low temperature has many unresolved aspects that require developing the theory further. We design new electron paramagnetic agents and characterize the physical chemistry of relevant systems. These studies require novel instrumentation and methods.
The far out-of-equilibrium, transient, nuclear spin states require signal acquisition strategies that deviate from the conventional. We study new acquisition strategies that optimally extract the information of interest. Hyperpolarized metabolic MR imposes new challenges on the detection hardware and acquisition strategies to reach the ultimate limit of sensitivity. We thus develop MR coils and pulse sequences.
Our aim is to translate hyperpolarized metabolic MR to medical imaging and the study of biological systems, e.g. brain and cells infected by pathogens.
Our research activities in hyperpolarization is organized in Center for Hyperpolarization in Magnetic Resonance (HYPERMAG), that stated as a Center of Excellence funded by the Danish National Research Foundation. HYPERMAG is committed to studying basic research questions of nuclear spin hyperpolarization, exploiting the 10,000-fold enhancement of the MR signal to enable new applications within medicine, biology and chemistry. We have one of the most advanced facilities for research into hyperpolarization by dDNP with several polarizers operating at high magnetic field and low temperature. The center is further funded by other grants from the Danish research councils, private foundations and the ERC.