Research teams at Bayero University Kano and the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, are developing AI tools to support MR safety screening and protocol optimization in Nigeria. NordInsight is providing access to its MRI safety platform to support the work.
The collaboration was featured by AuntMinnieEurope in NordInsight supports MRI safety research in Nigeria.
About the research project
The project, AI-assist for MRI safety and image quality: A study to develop AI tools to enhance patient safety, workflow compliance, and captured image quality for MRI in resource-limited settings, is funded through the MICCAI Society Awards for the Advancement of Health Equity for 2026.
The clinician-led team is headed by Abdulrazaq Zubair of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, and Medserve Kano Diagnostic Center, and brings together clinical and AI expertise from institutions including Bayero University and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
The project centers on three AI-assisted modules:
- Automated safety screening for implant verification
- Image quality optimization through scan parameter recommendations
- Structured electronic data collection to replace paper-based systems
The team also aims to establish the region's first organized MR safety database and to generate high-quality datasets for African-focused AI research. Full project details are available on the MICCAI 2026 Africa project page.
NordInsight's role
NordInsight provides the research teams with access to its platform to support implant evaluation and workflow standardization. Structured implant information and consistent workflows help reduce variability in how MR safety decisions are made from one patient, technologist, or site to the next.
The aim is to improve consistency and reliability of MRI safety practices in environments with limited infrastructure.
Why this matters
MR safety relies on the same fundamentals everywhere: identifying the implant, finding the correct manufacturer conditions, and applying them consistently. Where infrastructure and access to documentation are limited, those steps are harder to carry out reliably.
NordInsight is built on the principle that MR safety tools need to fit into real radiology workflows and make trusted source information easier to access. Supporting research that brings that consistency to more regions is a natural extension of that work.