MRI contrast developer Ferric Contrast has received a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop an iron-based MRI contrast agent as an alternative to gadolinium-based media.
Ferric was founded by Janet Morrow, PhD, a chemistry professor from the University at Buffalo, and entrepreneur Bradford La Salle. Its contrast technology is being developed for MRI scans of the brain, vasculature, liver, and kidneys, and for the detection of tumors.
Iron occurs naturally in red blood cells, and the body is able to clear and recycle the element, Ferric noted. The company has already demonstrated that its contrast technology can obtain clear images of body organs and brain tumors, and the new STTR funding will allow it to conduct additional research that demonstrates the efficacy of its chemical complexes.
Ferric also plans to perform toxicity studies to assess the safety of its contrast agents.
