MRI contrast agents are undergoing rapid evolution, driven by advances in chemistry, safety research, and imaging techniques. Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) have long served as the cornerstone of clinical MRI, and new high-relaxivity formulations hold promise for wider safety margins at lower doses. Two such ultra-stable macrocyclic GBCAs are either already approved (gadopiclenol, Guerbet and Bracco) or under review (gadoquatrane, Bayer Pharmaceuticals) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Meanwhile, manganese-based agents are undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials for cardiac imaging, and the iron nanoparticle ferumoxytol (Ferabright, Azurity Pharmaceuticals) has recently received FDA approval for MRI of brain tumors. These agents stand to broaden the scope, safety and versatility of contrast-enhanced MRI. This ISMRM workshop will explore the potential of next-generation contrast agents and key related imaging strategies to improve and expand clinical applications, while increasing quantitative accuracy, diagnostic specificity, and workflow efficiency.

Featured agents will include ferumoxytol, manganese-based agents, gadopiclenol, gadoquatrane, and others approaching or undergoing clinical evaluation. The workshop will highlight applications that include vascular imaging, flow imaging, advanced visualization and display, tissue characterization, and imaging of the immune system and inflammation. Emphasis will be placed on strategies that facilitate clinical adoption, including practical imaging protocols, workflow integration and cost-effective implementation. The workshop will further highlight advanced image acquisition and reconstruction methods that exploit specific contrast-agent characteristics. By harmonizing relevant contrast agent chemistry, physiology, pulse sequence design, reconstruction science, clinical translation, and clinical trials, this workshop aims to facilitate the adoption of new and emerging agents into mainstream clinical practice. The goal is to bring together scientists, clinicians, technologists, and industry partners to update our perspective on the future of contrast agents and contrast-enhanced MRI.

This workshop is designed for a broad and interdisciplinary ISMRM audience, including:

• Clinicians with interest in contrast-enhanced MRI applications;
• MRI scientists developing pulse sequences, reconstruction algorithms, and quantitative imaging methods that rely on or benefit from contrast agents;
• Researchers focused on vascular imaging, inflammation, oncology, cardiovascular imaging, and neuroimaging;
• Trainees (graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, residents, and fellows) seeking an overview of emerging contrast agents and their technical and clinical implications;
• Technologists seeking insight into the practicalities of using newer agents, particularly ferumoxytol;
• Industry scientists involved in contrast agent development, imaging platforms, and advanced reconstruction and image processing tools for contrast-enhanced MRI; and
• Chemists and translational scientists involved in contrast agent development and evaluation.

• Explain the physical, chemical, and biological properties of next-generation MRI contrast agents, including iron-based, manganese-based, and advanced gadolinium-based compounds;
• Compare safety profiles, pharmacokinetics, and relaxivity mechanisms of emerging contrast agents relative to conventional GBCAs;
• Recognize applications that have been validated and clinically adopted and identify new and emerging applications enabled by novel contrast agents;
• Recognize the role of well-designed clinical trials and high-impact dissemination in advancing clinical adoption and broader use of emerging contrast agents;
• Describe advanced MRI acquisition and reconstruction strategies that leverage contrast-agent behavior to enhance tissue contrast, spatial resolution, and quantitative accuracy;
• Evaluate the role of quantitative imaging, dynamic imaging, and AI-based reconstruction in maximizing the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced MRI;
• Recognize challenges and regulatory considerations associated with late-stage and Phase 3 clinical trials for contrast agents; and
• Integrate contrast-agent innovation with next-generation MRI methodology to design impactful research studies and future clinical applications.