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§ Private Profile · 2020 N Loop Road, Alameda, California 94502, US
Magnetic Insight is a technology company.
Magnetic Insight develops Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) technology, a molecular imaging platform providing highly sensitive and quantitative cellular imaging. This system is tailored for clinical and translational research, enabling precise, non-invasive tracking of biological processes with clarity. It offers a novel approach to visualize and quantify cellular therapies and disease progression.
Founded in 2014, Magnetic Insight emerged from the insight that existing imaging modalities limited precise biological measurement. The company was established to harness MPI’s unique attributes, including deep tissue penetration and lack of background signal, to provide accurate and sensitive data in preclinical settings.
Researchers in academic, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology environments utilize Magnetic Insight’s technology to monitor and evaluate advanced therapies. Their primary focus includes assessing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. The company's vision is to establish MPI as a standard tool, enhancing scientific understanding and accelerating the development of more effective treatments.
Magnetic Insight has raised $36.0M across 4 funding rounds.
Magnetic Insight has raised $36.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Magnetic Insight has raised $36.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Magnetic Insight's investors include National Institutes of Health, Nicholas Brathwaite, Celesta, MYASIAVC PTE LTD, Pareto Holdings, Soffinova Partners, Sofinnova Investments, Westlake Village BioPartners, 5AM Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Gaingels, Sand Hill Angels.
Magnetic Insight has raised $36.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Grant in April 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 2024 | $3M Grant | National Institutes OF Health | — | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2022 | $17M Series B | Nicholas Brathwaite | Celesta, MYASIAVC PTE LTD, Pareto Holdings, Soffinova Partners, Sofinnova Investments, Westlake Village BioPartners, 5AM Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Gaingels, Sand Hill Angels | Announced |
| Dec 1, 2018 | $13M Series A | David Allison | Soffinova Partners, Sofinnova Investments, Westlake Village BioPartners | Announced |
| Jul 1, 2016 | $3M Seed | Sand Hill Angels | Stanford | Announced |
Magnetic Insight is a preclinical and translational imaging company developing Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) systems, a radiation-free technology that uses iron oxide nanoparticles to produce high-contrast, quantitative images of specific biological targets like cells and blood flow. It primarily serves researchers in cancer, immunology, and drug development, solving key limitations of nuclear medicine scans—such as radiation exposure, short tracer half-lives, and background noise—potentially replacing over 50% of them with safer, logistically simpler alternatives.[1][2][3][6][7] The company offers products like the MOMENTUM imager for murine models, VivoTrax tracers, HYPER for localized hyperthermia (e.g., cancer treatment and drug release), RELAX for particle relaxometry, and multimodal imaging software, with growing adoption in labs across the US, China, and Canada.[3][6]
Founded from UC Berkeley research, Magnetic Insight has raised significant funding (e.g., $18M from 5AM Ventures) and is transitioning from preclinical tools to clinical applications, accelerating research translation into human diagnostics and therapies.[2][3][4]
Magnetic Insight emerged from over a decade of research in UC Berkeley Professor Steven Conolly's lab in Bioengineering, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science, where Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) was pioneered for its zero-background, radiation-free imaging in animal studies.[2][4] Co-founded by Conolly, Patrick Goodwill (PhD from Conolly's lab), and Heidi Christensen (early business advocate who became CEO), the company was officially launched around 2012-2016 (sources vary slightly on exact year: 2012 per Berkeley, 2014 per CB Insights, 2016 per Alameda Magazine) in Alameda, California.[2][4][5]
The idea crystallized when Goodwill miniaturized a bulky prototype into a shippable scanner (from version 8), impressing Christensen, who left her job to co-found the venture with Goodwill as CTO and Conolly as scientific advisor. Early traction included building six research scanners deployed globally and partnerships like Stanford University, bolstered by NIH recognition and venture funding to commercialize the tech.[1][3][4]
Magnetic Insight rides the radiation-free imaging trend in medtech, addressing a $5B+ global nuclear medicine market burdened by radioactive tracers' supply constraints, patient risks, and imaging limitations.[1][6] Timing is ideal amid rising demand for precise, safe tools in oncology, immunotherapy, and personalized medicine, fueled by nanoparticle advances and regulatory pushes for non-ionizing modalities.[1][3] Market forces like aging populations, cancer prevalence, and post-pandemic supply chain scrutiny favor MPI's logistical simplicity and superior contrast.[4][6]
The company influences the ecosystem by partnering with top institutions (e.g., Stanford, international labs), accelerating preclinical-to-clinical translation, and enabling innovations like targeted hyperthermia—potentially reshaping 50%+ of nuclear scans and inspiring hybrid imaging platforms.[1][3][4]
Magnetic Insight is poised to expand MPI into clinical scanners and therapeutics, building on preclinical momentum and funding to target human cancer imaging/treatment trials. Trends like AI-enhanced imaging, nanoparticle therapeutics, and regulatory fast-tracks for safe modalities will propel growth, potentially capturing nuclear medicine share as logistics and safety barriers fall. Its influence may evolve from research enabler to medtech disruptor, delivering the high-contrast visibility doctors need—transforming opaque bodies into actionable insights, much like its founding vision to outshine radiation-based rivals.[1][3][6]