Bioxydyn Limited is a world leader in the field of imaging biomarkers, working with pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology businesses and world-leading academic teams to help them obtain and understand detailed quantifiable biomedical data from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans.
Bioxydyn recognised that inconsistent imaging data across different makes and models of MRI scanners posed a significant barrier to expanding the use of quantifiable MR in drug development. These inconsistencies make it hard to interpret the imaging data, especially if a clinical trial recruits patients from different hospitals, around the world, all of which use different scanners – some more reliable than others.
Bioxydyn realised that the problem was the way that MRI test objects, known as phantoms, were being used. Phantoms have been used as MRI control objects for over 40 years. They are objects with known properties, which can be scanned, so that the scanner’s results can be compared with the object’s true values. The difficulty is that there was no rigorous way of deciding between quality control “pass” and “fail” for the intensive quantitative MRI measurements Bioxydyn makes.
“We knew that solving this problem could speed up clinical trials for new drug treatments and improve the quality of the data. And that this would also offer our company a new competitive advantage.” Says Professor John Waterton, Bioxydyn’s Scientific Director.
Bioxydyn approached NPL through the Measurement for Business (M4B) programme to develop quantifiable imaging standards to enhance the use of phantoms.
The project had two primary objectives:
NPL’s expertise in metrology and magnetic resonance physics was critical to achieving both objectives. It also offered something else that meant it could deliver results much faster than anticipated – an unparalleled knowledge of existing technical documentation for industrial metrology procedures in other sectors. This mattered because the output of NPL and Bioxydyn’s M4B project would be a technical procedure for using phantoms effectively. Knowing what was available in other fields, where there was already well-developed metrology for similar problems meant the project did not need to start from scratch.
“As an MR physicist and a metrologist, I could understand the problem and possible ways to achieve the objectives,” explains Matt Hall, Science Area Leader for Nuclear Medicine and Magnetic Resonance Physics at NPL. “But our team’s deep understanding of existing measurement procedures and supporting technical literature in other industries meant we could utilise our knowledge of what was already out there and adapt it for Bioxydyn’s particular requirements. It was much quicker and based on proven approaches.”
NPL used this combination of expertise to design a bespoke workflow for using phantoms that would facilitate more quantifiable MRI results. This included:
The project was highly collaborative. Bioxydyn provided example data sets for NPL to use. NPL then ran test analyses using the different elements of its proposed procedure to see whether they delivered useful outputs. It would share the results with Bioxydyn, which would apply its commercial experience to guide NPL on whether the proposed approach would be effective in real drug development environments.
As a result of this project, some of the largest pharma companies in the world are now talking to Bioxydyn about incorporating its metrology into their processes.
The project has enhanced Bioxydyn’s capabilities, enabling it to offer clients a rigorous Phantom Metrology Plan designed for clinical trials. This is now a cornerstone of the company’s proposition around quantifiable MRI protocols, ensuring imaging data is reliable and actionable. This is cementing Bioxydyn’s position as the market leader in imaging biomarkers, driving discussions with new clients and creating pathways for future contracts.
The project’s success also boosted existing clients’ confidence in Bioxydyn. By developing these rigorous standards, and embedding them in its commercial proposition, the company has strengthened its reputation among pharmaceutical clients that are constantly seeking new ways to reduce data quality risks, ensuring trials are scientifically valid and ethically sound.
Beyond the immediate benefits for Bioxydyn, the workflow developed with NPL will be featured in peer-reviewed publications, setting a new industry benchmark, and opening doors for applications in other sectors.
“This project has been about creating a new measurement process to enable faster medical discoveries that could save lives,” concludes Hall. “We may have taken from what was already out there, but we are also giving something back to further expand the body of work that exists in the field. It’s a superb demonstration of how M4B projects should work. This project highlights the critical intersection of science and commerce. By addressing longstanding gaps in quantifiable imaging standardisation, we have not only helped those conducting vital clinical trials but also demonstrated the transformative power of rigorous metrology.”
This project emphasised practicality. We blended scientific precision with the flexibility to adapt to the commercial and medical realities of clinical trials. Together, NPL and Bioxydyn ensured the guidance we could now provide about using phantoms effectively was not only robust but also scalable for use in diverse trial environments.
Professor John Waterton, Scientific Director - Bioxydyn