A synthetic intelligence-powered innovation in a position to decreasing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) acquisition time by way of as much as 90 according to cent has gained the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation (NPSI).
The innovation, GenScan AI, often referred to as GenMRI/C-MORE, was once evolved by way of Mary-Brenda Akoda, a Nigerian synthetic intelligence researcher and instrument engineer.
Akoda’s emergence because the 2026 NPSI winner is historical, as she turns into the primary girl and primary millennial to win the prize as a person recipient.
She emerged winner from a document 237 entries submitted for the 2026 pageant; the very best collection of entries gained because the inception of the prize.
The winner was once introduced the day prior to this in Lagos on the 2026 Press Convention for the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation following an impartial analysis by way of the Prize’s Panel of Judges and next endorsement by way of the NPSI Advisory Board.
GenScan AI is an AI-powered MRI reconstruction generation designed to seriously scale back the time required to obtain MRI scans whilst keeping up or bettering symbol high quality.
Its C-MORE set of rules employs a one-step consistency-model framework to reconstruct MRI photographs.
In keeping with the organisers, the generation has the possible to scale back scan occasions by way of as much as 90 according to cent with out requiring new MRI {hardware}.
The judges stated the innovation stood out a few of the 3 shortlisted entries as a result of its mixture of clinical innovation, technical soundness, developmental affect and industrial scalability.
Additionally they famous that the generation may just strengthen the utilisation of MRI scanners, scale back affected person ready occasions and probably extend get right of entry to to scientific imaging, in particular in resource-constrained healthcare methods comparable to Nigeria’s.
The advance is very important for a rustic the place get right of entry to to complicated scientific imaging stays constrained by way of the price and availability of apparatus and the time required for examinations.
Somewhat than requiring hospitals to exchange present MRI machines, the innovation is designed to paintings with present {hardware}, probably providing healthcare suppliers a approach to strengthen the potency in their imaging products and services.
Talking on the tournament, Normal Supervisor, Exterior Members of the family and Sustainable Construction of the Nigeria LNG Restricted (NLNG), Dr Sophia Horsfall, stated the emergence of a winner in 2026, after the prize recorded a “no winner” verdict in 2025, demonstrated that the organisers had maintained the integrity and prime requirements of the contest.
She stated the 2026 pageant, which retained the theme, “Inventions in Synthetic Intelligence, ICT and Virtual Applied sciences for Construction,” attracted 237 entries, representing the very best quantity recorded because the prize started.
Horsfall stated the go back of a winner must now not be interpreted as a leisure of the criteria carried out to the contest.
“If an access is said worthy of the Prize these days, we will be able to be assured that it has earned that difference thru a radical and credible analysis procedure,” she stated.
She recommended the Advisory Board and the Panel of Judges for what she described as their professionalism, independence and integrity during the adjudication procedure.
Chairman of the NPSI Advisory Board, Prof. Barth Nnaji, stated the unanimous determination to recognise GenScan AI mirrored the standard of the innovation and its possible to handle essential healthcare demanding situations.
Nnaji stated the adjudication procedure was once intentionally structured to spot inventions that went past clinical novelty to reveal sensible relevance, measurable affect and potentialities for real-world utility.
In keeping with him, GenScan AI prominent itself by way of combining complicated synthetic intelligence with a sensible healthcare utility in a position to bettering the potency and accessibility of scientific imaging.
2026 award marks the twelfth instance on which a profitable paintings has been recognised within the 22-year historical past of the prize, now rebranded because the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.
Akoda will obtain the United States$100,000 prize on the Grand Award Night time scheduled to carry on October 9, 2026.
Her instructional {and professional} background additional underscores the importance of the fulfillment.
She is a First-Magnificence graduate of Laptop Science from Goldsmiths, College of London, and holds a Grasp of Analysis with Difference in Synthetic Intelligence and System Finding out from Imperial Faculty London, the place she was once a Google DeepMind Pupil.
Akoda has additionally labored as a instrument engineer and AI analysis scientist at Microsoft, together with on the Microsoft Blended Fact and AI Analysis Lab in Cambridge.
The NPSI stated GenScan AI’s reputation mirrored the judges’ evaluate that the innovation may just translate complicated analysis into a sensible resolution with measurable advantages for healthcare supply.
The generation’s possible to shorten MRI procedures may just allow scientific amenities to habits extra scans inside of the similar length, scale back ready occasions for sufferers and strengthen the utilisation of present MRI infrastructure.
For Nigeria’s healthcare device, the possible affect may well be in particular vital in settings the place restricted get right of entry to to MRI products and services is compounded by way of prime apparatus prices and lengthy affected person queues.
NLNG congratulated Akoda and all contributors within the 2026 pageant, noting that each submission contributes to strengthening Nigeria’s clinical and innovation ecosystem.
The corporate additionally recommended the Nigerian media for its persevered partnership in selling clinical excellence and inspiring larger public hobby in inventions geared toward addressing nationwide demanding situations.
The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation stays one in every of NLNG’s flagship projects for selling excellence in clinical analysis and technological innovation, with the said goal of encouraging answers in a position to handing over significant and sustainable affect on society.
Wale Igbintade
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