Multi-user ultra-high field clinical imaging research centre for London

Using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy (MRI/S) to study patients can provide unparalleled anatomical, functional and biochemical information completely non-invasively without using ionising radiation. Most clinical and research scanners operate with 1.5T or 3T magnets. This proposal will fund an ultra-high-field MRI system with a stronger 7T magnet that produces larger MRI/S signals that can provide more information. The signal increases allow higher resolution imaging and the signal changes can allow detection of subtle disease properties. This offers enormous potential for research and clinical investigation, but is very demanding technically, so integrated teams of doctors, biologists, physicists, engineers and computer scientists are needed to make best progress.

We will create a collaborative MRI/S research facility to be located at St Thomas’ Hospital as a regional resource to be used by clinical researchers drawn from the major London universities (King’s, Imperial and University College), the Institute of Cancer Research and other leading institutions.

This will allow a world-leading multidisciplinary group to tackle major scientific questions and clinical challenges. This will substantially increase understanding of disease processes and ultimately enhance patient care.