Northern Center for Hyperpolarization - NorthPole

• Subject Area: Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 553594132

In this application, we propose to fund a clinical polarizer for the hyperpolarization center in Kiel. This device will allow us to ex-tend our running preclinical program to human application, evaluating the potential of the technology in clinical studies with our internal, national and international partners. Hyperpolarized MRI is well integrated in Kiel University and the medical faculty. Being set in Germany’s second largest university medical center, the UKSH, gives us unique access to clinical partners, GMP facilities and patient cohorts. Over the past years, we were successful in implementing all required infra-structure, including state of the art clinical and preclinical imaging suites for hyperpolarized MRI, a preclinical hyperpolarization program and a large, expert group (total grants > 12 M€). The missing piece is a clinical polarizer for human studies. In this proposal, we suggest to fund the polarizer, consumables (mostly tracers), and five work packages to help implementing the method in Kiel, establishing workflows and validation quality assurance. At this time, we already have eight funded projects that will make use of the device, and eight more with specific plans for grant applications. As part of our center, access will be given to users in northern Germany and elsewhere, as we already do in our preclinical hyperpolarization program and preclinical imaging center. Funding this device will complete our center and allow us to anchor human hyperpolarization in northern Germany, fostering hyperpolarization research and collaborations in Germany, across the Baltic Sea and beyond.

• DFG Programme: Major Instrumentation Initiatives
• Major Instrumentation: Hyperpolarisator
• Applicant Institution: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
• Leader: Professor Dr. Jan-Bernd Hövener