Polarean Imaging PLC (AIM:POLX, OTC:PLLWF) and Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) are to work together on a study into the long-term effects of Covid-19 in patients still having difficulty breathing after the virus has gone. The company will provide its xenon polariser system for the EXPLAIN study being run by OUH and also help researchers analyse the datasets from enrolled patients. Polarean’s system uses Xenon gas and MRI imaging technology to produce fine details of how the lungs function while breathing and by analysing these gas-exchange images OUH hopes to better characterise long Covid and improve patient care. Fergus Gleeson, Professor of Radiology at the University of Oxford, said: “We are pleased to be working with Polarean, now having access to their most advanced hyperpolarised xenon equipment. With this new system, we will be able to image increased numbers of patients more efficiently to see if we can uncover the underlying causes driving long Covid as part of our EXPLAIN study.” Richard Hullihen, Polarean’s chief executive, added: “Oxford University is a leading pioneer in the use of 129Xe MRI to unravel the underlying pathophysiology that drives persistent breathlessness in patients with long Covid. “We are delighted to collaborate with them on new image analyses as part of the upcoming EXPLAIN trial that might shed additional light on the mysterious illness that has been affecting a growing number of patients over the past few years and affecting their quality of life.”