In a major medical breakthrough, frontline British military personnel will soon undergo mobile brain scans directly on the battlefield or during training, aiming to solve the long-standing mystery of what explosions do to the human brain.
A World-First Mobile Scanner
UK scientists are building the world's first-ever easily transportable head scanner, designed to assess the impact of blast exposure on soldiers, sailors, and air force personnel. The £3.1 million project will deploy the cutting-edge technology to firing ranges, field hospitals, and rehabilitation centres from March 2026.
The Ministry of Defence has recently confirmed that the military's own weapon systems can cause mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). Experts warn that repeated exposure to blast waves, even at low levels, can injure the brain and lead to lifelong health conditions, with thousands of troops potentially affected.
Transforming Understanding of Blast Injury
The new scanner uses a non-invasive technique called magnetoencephalography (MEG) to measure the brain's electrical activity. For the first time, researchers will see precisely what happens to brain function within minutes of blast exposure and monitor recovery over time.
Lt Col James Mitchell, Consultant Neurologist and Chief Investigator of the UK Military Blast Study, explained the shift in understanding: "Over especially the last five to ten years we are starting to appreciate the role of what we call 'low level blast', this is predominantly exposure of our service personnel to blast overpressure from our own weapon systems."
This mobile capability is crucial because the immediate effects of a blast on the brain can disappear quickly, masking potential long-term damage that only becomes evident later.
Wider Benefits for Society
The pioneering technology, developed by the University of Nottingham spin-out company Cerca Magnetics in collaboration with scientists from the Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, will have applications far beyond defence.
It is set to revolutionise research into sports concussion, dementia, and epilepsy by allowing scanners to be taken directly to hospitals or sports grounds. Professor Matthew Brookes, Chairman of Cerca Magnetics, stated: "The introduction of mobile systems will likely revolutionise other fields too."
Louise Sandher-Jones MP, Minister for Veterans and People, said: "Thanks to technologies like this, even subtle physical changes are now becoming detectable... This funding demonstrates our commitment to renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve." The system is expected to be fully operational by 31 March 2026.
