Cobalt Medical Charity is delighted to have received a generous grant from the Clive Richards Foundation towards a pivotal software upgrade for our 3.0 Tesla (3T) MRI scanner, the only high field 3T scanner in Gloucestershire and one of just two serving the wider Three Counties region of Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire.

This state-of-the-art AI-powered software upgrade will transform how we deliver diagnostic imaging. By significantly improving image quality and cutting scan times, it will directly enhance patient comfort and diagnostic accuracy especially for those undergoing scans for conditions such as cancer, dementia, and musculoskeletal issues.

In addition, the 3T MRI scanner, helps supports more than 25 active research projects and helps thousands of patients every year. It The scanner plays a crucial role in advanced breast imaging (including the BRAID trials), dementia research, and many other clinical areas.

Thanks to this funding, Cobalt will be able to:

• Increase the number of patients we scan each year
• Reduce waiting times for those facing serious conditions
• Improve the patient experience – for example, enabling high-resolution brain scans for dementia patients in less than half the usual time
• Continue supporting cutting-edge research and innovation
• Deliver more sustainable scans with an environmentally friendly upgrade that reuses existing hardware

Jim Brown, CEO, Cobalt
“Support from the Clive Richards Foundation has been integral in enabling us to fund this incredible software update. It gives Cobalt access to the most advanced diagnostic technology in the region on a 3T MRI scanner, and – most importantly – it directly benefits our patients.”