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Developing a new tool for earlier, more accurate diagnosis of brain conditions during pregnancy

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Around 1,500 pregnancies in the UK each year are affected by conditions where a baby’s nervous system does not form properly.[1] Early and accurate diagnosis of brain malformations is crucial to help parents make informed decisions and to allow doctors to plan appropriate care. Professor Mary Rutherford at King’s College London is leading a team developing a new tool to widen access to high-quality fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) across the UK. By improving image quality, standardising assessments, and producing easy-to-understand reports, this will enable earlier, more accurate diagnosis of brain malformations during pregnancy – supporting better long-term outcomes for children.

How are children’s lives affected now?

Children with brain malformations have parts of the brain that may be abnormally developed. While the effects vary widely depending on the type and severity, many children will need long-term care and support due to physical disabilities, learning difficulties or behavioural challenges.

“Early and accurate diagnosis of brain malformations is crucial as it helps families to understand their baby’s condition, supports informed decision-making, and allows doctors to plan the best possible care during pregnancy and following birth,” says Professor Rutherford.

While ultrasound scans during pregnancy are routinely used to monitor a baby’s development, some brain malformations can be difficult to detect. Fetal MRI offers additional detail, helping doctors identify and better understand these abnormalities. 

“However, fetal MRI requires highly trained specialists and is currently available in only a small number of UK centres,” says Professor Rutherford.  “The images are often affected by fetal movement, making it difficult to assess brain development and take accurate measurements.”

How could this research help?

Our goal is to develop a new tool to widen access to high-quality fetal MRI, supporting earlier, more accurate diagnosis of brain malformations during pregnancy.

Professor Rutherford

The team has developed innovative solutions to overcome the technical challenges of fetal MRI – including creating detailed 3D reconstructions from motion artefacted 2D scans, and automatic identification and measurement of key structures in the typically developing brain.

“We now plan to extend these approaches to fetuses with brain malformations and combine them into an easy-to-use tool for analysing fetal brain MRI scans,” says Professor Rutherford.

By improving image quality, automating measurements, and generating structured, easy-to-understand reports, the tool will be designed to integrate smoothly into NHS workflows, complementing radiology reports and enabling more centres to offer this type of advanced imaging.

“This will equip doctors to improve care during pregnancy and after birth, while providing more accurate counselling for parents,” says Professor Rutherford.

Overall, we hope it will lead to better long-term outcomes for children affected by brain malformations across the UK.

Professor Rutherford

References

  1. NCARDRS Congenital Anomaly Official Statistics Report, 2022 Data Tables (Table 1) https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/ncardrs-congenital-anomaly-statistics-annual-data/ncardrs-congenital-condition-statistics-report-2022 [website accessed 24 February 2026].

Research table

Project details

Project Leader Professor Mary Rutherford, MD FRCPCH FRCR
Location King’s College London
Project Team Dr Alena Uus, PhD
Dr Aysha Luis, BSc
Dr Jacqueline Matthew, MSc MRes PhD
Other Locations St Bartholomew’s Hospital
Grant Amount £196,276
Duration 36 months
Grant Code (GN number) GN4028

 

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