Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) – Brain injuries stemming from sports or work-related activities are recognized for their potential to induce a range of enduring health consequences. Chronic or persistent brain injury, characterized by its lasting impact on cognitive, physical, and emotional capacities, represents a specific form of brain damage. Although certain brain injuries may resolve through time and therapeutic interventions, others can precipitate enduring difficulties that substantially affect an individual’s everyday existence.
Many studies have across the world have focused extensively on brain injury as it has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease and many other neurological conditions.
Researchers are set to create the world’s first fully mobile brain scanner capable of assessing the immediate effects of blast exposure on military personnel at training sites.
Funded by the Ministry of Defence, the initiative will allow scientists at the University of Birmingham and the University of Nottingham to monitor brain activity within minutes of a blast and observe recovery processes—potentially revolutionizing the protection of those in service.
The Ministry of Defence has allocated £3.1 million to develop a magnetoencephalography (MEG) scanner using advanced quantum technology.
This mobile lab is designed for immediate deployment to military ranges, field hospitals, and rehabilitation centers, bringing advanced brain-monitoring technology to the forefront. The goal is to provide critical support for evidence-based decisions, helping to protect personnel from possible adverse effects.
Lt Col James Mitchell, Consultant Neurologist at the University of Birmingham and Chief Investigator of the UK Military Blast Study at the UK Defence Medical Services, indicated that it is a groundbreaking system that will transform how tehy study blast impacts on the brain. For the first time, they can create an accurate, time-stamped record of what happens to the brain immediately after blast exposure and track recovery over time.
“Ultimately, we expect this system to help provide robust, scientifically informed policy on safe working practices for blast exposure.”
The creation of this advanced scanner tackles a major defence concern: repeated exposure to shock waves from high-powered weapons may cause subtle alterations in brain function, which could, over the course of a military career, raise the risk of serious neurological conditions.
Determining safe exposure levels has been difficult because these effects are often mild and short-lived, disappearing within 24–48 hours. This makes traditional lab-based scanners inadequate for detecting the immediate impact of blasts.
Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandher-Jones MP, indicated that the wellbeing of their personnel is their highest priority. With innovations like this, even minor physical changes can now be identified, giving them vital insights that were previously unattainable, and enhancing both decision-making and protective measures for the forces.
She further indicated that this investment highlights their dedication to supporting those who serve while also demonstrating how defence technology can benefit the wider community, including people affected by dementia, epilepsy, and concussion.
“This makes it the perfect technology for characterising the acute effects of blast exposure on neural activity. Our unique system will enable us to understand and quantify the effect of blast from specific weaponry in the hours to days after exposure has happened.”
The system is said to be produced by Cerca Magnetics, a spin-out company from the University of Nottingham, and will be deployed by the Defence Medical Services. This quantum-powered scanner, designed for defence research and brain imaging, supports the Government’s Plan for Change and has potential applications well beyond the military, offering significant benefits for studies into sports-related concussions, dementia, and epilepsy.
The mobile-MEG scanner technology has been in development for ten years, with backing from the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme—an initiative supported by both the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Ministry of Defence.
