November 19, 2025 — Leads & Copy —
Hyperfine, Inc. has received a $3.7 million grant from the Gates Foundation to enhance global brain health initiatives in underserved communities. The funds will support activities through 2028, focusing on expanding technical innovation using AI-powered portable MRI for neonatal scanning. The aim is to objectively evaluate neurodevelopment in infants and young children in resource-constrained settings.
The UNITY project, led by King’s College London (King’s), utilizes Hyperfine’s Swoop® system to enable more effective interventions that improve child brain development and health worldwide. Professor Steve Williams of King’s College London, the principal investigator for the UNITY research initiative, noted the project is imaging the developing brain in locations previously inaccessible. The initiative aims to provide a scalable, low-cost method for directly evaluating neurodevelopment, improving children’s chances to thrive.
Millions of infants globally are at risk for delayed or impaired neurodevelopment due to premature birth, malnutrition, or health adversities. Traditional evaluations in resource-limited countries rely on indicators like physical growth or behavioral tests, which may not accurately reflect brain development. The Swoop® system offers a cost-effective solution for assessing early brain development and monitoring the impact of health interventions.
The new funding phase focuses on optimizing treatment in underserved countries, building upon the existing UNITY project’s research into environmental influences on early brain maturation. The UNITY research initiative includes over 40 academic and clinical centers in low-, middle-, and high-income countries such as Malawi, Ghana, Zambia, Kenya, India, and Pakistan.
The collaboration with King’s aims to develop AI-based pipelines to enhance image clarity and diagnostic reliability for neonatal patients. These improvements will address challenges related to motion and low signal-to-noise ratio in neonatal scanning, delivering consistent image quality for Swoop® system use globally.
Maria Sainz, President and CEO of Hyperfine, Inc., said the grant reflects confidence in Hyperfine’s technology and readiness to scale solutions. With the Swoop® system, more than 10,000 examinations have been performed on over 6,000 babies and infants across five continents.
The Swoop® Portable MR Imaging® Systems are FDA-cleared for brain imaging in patients of all ages. These portable, ultra-low-field MRI devices produce images of the head’s internal structure where full diagnostic examination is not practical. Trained physicians can use these images to determine diagnoses.
Hyperfine, Inc. was founded by Dr. Jonathan Rothberg in a technology-based incubator called 4Catalyzer. Hyperfine, Inc. scientists, engineers, and physicists developed the Swoop® system to revolutionize patient care through clinically relevant diagnostic imaging. Hyperfine’s mission is to improve global patient care through accessible diagnostic imaging.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ due to factors including the acceptance of the Swoop® system, the impact of COVID-19, regulatory issues, and the company’s ability to manage growth and secure financing. Hyperfine cautions readers against undue reliance on these statements, which are relevant only as of the date made and subject to change.
Contact:
Hyperfine Media Relations
hyperfine@greenough.biz
Source: Hyperfine, Inc.
