Deuterium Metabolic Imaging (DMI) is a new technology to dynamically assess metabolic processes, which relies on deuterium magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging combined with oral administration of deuterium-labeled compounds. At the UMC Utrecht, we develop new hardware and software to advance DMI at 7 T for new applications throughout the body, such as the study of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in diabetes as well as oncological applications.

In the FET Innovation Launchpad project, we aim to develop Deuterium Metabolic Imaging (DMI) hardware and software to map metabolism throughout the body in humans at 7 T and, together with our industrial partner WaveTronica, to translate the technology into a pre-production model. As metabolic alterations precede any morphologic alterations during disease manifestation or during treatments, DMI will improve patient diagnostics (earlier recognition of disease) and improve treatment monitoring, i.e. ineffective treatments can be stopped much earlier and replaced by alternative treatments. Moreover, DMI will be beneficial for drug development, opening up a new area of research and development in drug discoveries. Therefore, bringing DMI to the market, as an upgrade for existing MR systems and as an optional package for new MR systems, will be of great benefit to society and industry.