We took part in the 25th German Ferrofluid Workshop from September 30th to October 2nd in Benediktbeuern. In addition to presenting the first results of our project, we also showcased MPS measurements used to investigate an aneurysm phantom. Besides the interesting talks, we joined a hike and a guided tour through Garmisch-Partenkirchen, as well as an engaging mountain lecture. We are looking forward to the next workshop in 2026.

Attending BMT 2025 from September 9–11 in Muttenz. We introduced our project to an international audience for the first time. Our talk was held during the session “FS New Developments and Advancements in Magnetic Methods in Medicine 2”, led by Silvio Dutz and Kerstin Pansegrau. We look back on many interesting talks, stimulating discussions, and a very pleasant conference.

Berlin, 18 August 2025 — A research collaboration between the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and the Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau (WHZ) has launched the project “harmoMPI: Harmonization of quantitative magnetic particle imaging (MPI) with scanner-independent functional phantoms for preclinical investigations”, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). With support from the MPI research community, this joint initiative aims to harmonize Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) technology across diverse platforms, pushing forward MPI research and paving the way toward clinically relevant applications.

MPI is a promising tomographic imaging modality known for its high sensitivity and spatiotemporal resolution using magnetic nanoparticles as a tracer for a wide range of biomedical applications. Since its debut in 2005, a variety of preclinical MPI scanner architectures have emerged, ranging from commercial systems to custom-built research devices. However, cross-platform comparisons remain challenging due to the lack of standardized phantoms and evaluation methods.

“harmoMPI” seeks to fill this critical gap by developing platform-independent, modular phantoms that enable reliably assessment of key performance parameters across different MPI systems. In addition to developing a consistent performance evaluation procedure, another key goal of the project is the creation of a planning tool that helps researchers select the optimal MPI scanner configuration for any specific experiment. This enhances the efficiency of experiment planning, supports quality assurance, and minimizes unnecessary animal testing by reducing trial-and-error approaches.

Ultimately, the harmonization driven by “harmoMPI” will accelerate the transition of MPI from laboratory research to practical biomedical applications, delivering benefits to both scientific discovery and clinical practice.