University of Cincinnati opens new research facility aimed at advancing MRI innovation
In partnership with GE HealthCare, the University of Cincinnati has just opened a new imaging research facility.
University leaders, clinicians and industry partners recently gathered to celebrate the opening of the Imaging Research & Development Center on UC’s medical campus. The initiative is a collaboration between UC, UC Health, Cincinnati Children’s, GEHC and JobsOhio.
The new facility is aimed at accelerating magnetic resonance imaging research, which experts are hopeful will help expand diagnostic knowledge across multiple specialties. GE HealthCare’s 3T wide-bore MRI system will support the center’s research initiatives. Experts intend to use the scanner platform to improve diagnostic performance, address patient comfort (which plays a big role in image quality) and streamline workflow efficiency.
The center will be the hub for numerous pilot projects and large-scale national and international clinical trials. The facility also will support the development of artificial intelligence-enabled imaging workflows targeted at reducing scan times and improving accessibility for patients. Experts are hopeful that these initiatives will be especially helpful for those who struggle to remain still or hold their breath during MRI scans—a common issue for many patients who undergo advanced imaging.
“What is opening is more than a building or a scanner—it is a commitment that the most difficult questions in medicine will be answered here, together, with the right tools, the right people and the right partnerships,” Achala Vagal, MD, a UC Health neuroradiologist and chair and professor in the Department of Radiology, said in a statement.
Beyond imaging research, officials anticipate the center will strengthen Cincinnati’s growing life sciences sector while also creating new opportunities for engineers, imaging technologists, clinicians and researchers to collaborate on the development of advanced MRI technologies.
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In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.