The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) awarded a $1,596,935 Project Grant (CFDA 93.242 - Mental Health Research Grants) to Petcoil, Inc. to develop a portable, brain-dedicated positron emission tomography (PET) insert system that can be used with existing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines. The goal is to enable widespread adoption of simultaneous PET/MRI brain imaging to enhance the diagnosis and study of neurological and mental health disorders.
Specifically, the project aims to: 1) finalize the industrial design and manufacturing process for the PET insert production unit; 2) verify and validate the safety and performance of the production unit for regulatory submission in collaboration with Stanford University; and 3) develop the regulatory strategy and prepare for the FDA submission. This project will culminate in a production-ready brain PET insert system poised for commercialization and deployment to provide more affordable and higher-resolution PET/MRI capabilities for research and clinical use.