MRI research becomes more accessible for Purdue

Purdue University’s highly anticipated multimillion-dollar MRI research facility has officially opened its doors at its campus in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Researchers are now able to walk across the street and head straight to the imaging clinics dedicated directly to human sciences research for the College of Health and Human Services and the College of Engineering.

“It will facilitate access to scanners early in the morning. For example, dietary impacts, so for people who are fasting overnight, researchers can scan them in the morning which was not feasible before,” said Ulrike Dydak, an associate professor in the School of Health Science.

The facility, which is just over 3,770 square feet, was supported by a $2 million grant acquired by Dydak. The GE 3T scanner was purchased in partnership with General Electric, through funding provided to the Engieering Healthier Brains preeminent team led by Professor Thomas Talavage. 

“Everybody is really excited and wants to come see and we are still in the very beginning of setting everything up and training the users so we haven’t really gotten any study results yet, but people are very excited and we already have several faculty members with MRI funding, we have about $180,000 worth of funding so the faculty is excited,” said Dydak.  

The facility and scanners will be supported through research programs led by over 20 scientists from four colleges.