Two UK Quantum Technology Research Hub in Sensing, Imaging and Timing researchers at the University of Nottingham have received a prestigious award for their ground breaking research into the development of a portable brain-imaging system.
Holly Schofield, PhD student at the University of Nottingham’s School of Physics, and scientific researcher at University spin-out Cerca Magnetics Ltd, and Ryan Hill, senior research fellow at the University and co-founder of Cerca, have been awarded the 2024 paper of the year by leading academic journal Imaging Neuroscience
Their paper titled ‘A Novel, Robust, and Portable Platform for Magnetoencephalography using Optically Pumped Magnetometers’demonstrated an updated OPM-MEG scanner that builds on the system developed at Nottingham. The wearable brain scanner is based on quantum technology, uses LEGO-brick-sized sensors – called optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) – which are incorporated into a lightweight helmet to measure the magnetic fields generated by brain activity. This unique design means the system can be adapted to fit any age group, including very young children. The system takes only seconds to set up, and children wear it and can move freely during a scan. It is therefore ideally suited to scanning children.
In their research Ryan and Holly replaced large, bulky electronics mounted in server racks with a highly portable, backpack-mounted platform using integrated miniaturised electronics and offering improved sensor dynamic range, significantly enhancing practicality. It delivers high-quality neural recordings, even during simultaneous EEG acquisition (a crucial requirement for clinical adoption) and allows for substantial participant movement, such as transitions from sitting to standing, or people walking during a scan.
This new capability opens the door to studying naturalistic behaviours, including freezing-of-gait episodes in conditions like Parkinson’s disease. The system can even be taken between labs as was demonstrated when it was taken on the Eurostar to collaborators in Brussels. This work represents a major advance in making OPM-MEG viable for real-world clinical and research applications.
The University of Nottingham launched Cerca Magnetics in 2020 to commercialise OPM-MEG scanners and related technologies. The wearable system has been installed in a number of high profile research institutions. Ryan and Holly are part of the research team that is working to expand the system and its capabilities.
Ryan moved to Nottingham from Wolverhampton in 2013 to complete his undergraduate degree and subsequent PhD in Physics. His work has pioneered the use of OPM-MEG, demonstrating the world’s first lifespan-compliant system and winning the 2022 IoP Clifford Paterson for “exceptional early-career contributions to the application of physics in an industrial or commercial context.”
“It’s a real honour to receive this award from Imaging Neuroscience. It was a lot of work, and we could not have done it without such great support from our colleagues at Nottingham and collaborators around the world”.
Ryan Hill
Holly is a product developer at Cerca, undertaking a PhD at the University of Nottingham in parallel. Her research is focused on demonstrating and validating novel OPM-MEG hardware, and she has been involved in multiple successful installations of Cerca systems worldwide since joining in 2022. She obtained her Masters degree in Physics at the University of Nottingham after moving to Nottingham from her family home near Leeds.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Imaging Neuroscience for selecting our paper from over 300 outstanding publications in 2024. It’s wonderful to see OPM-MEG recognised in this way. This paper was a truly collaborative effort and represents an exciting and rewarding year of research”.
Holly Schofield
Professor Matthew Brookes from the University of Nottingham’s Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre has supervised Ryan and Holly’s research.
“Holly and Ryan are incredible scientists, whose work is pushing the boundaries of what is possible with brain imaging technologies. Their latest work, recognised by this award, paves the way for unique investigations into how the brain controls natural movement like walking. This is already enabling new investigations in people whose neurological conditions make walking difficult, such as those with parkinsons disease. We can now see, with unprecedented detail, the neural substrates that underlie these conditions”.
Professor Matthew Brookes
