Completed Cells, Biochemistry & Physiology Brain & Nervous System

Clinical Research Imaging Centre

Funder MRC (part of UKRI)
Recipient organisation University of Edinburgh
Funding £1.4M
Period Jul 2008 — Jul 2013

In plain English

AI plain-English summary

The University of Edinburgh is installing a powerful 3T whole-body MRI scanner alongside existing PET-CT and cyclotron facilities in a single new research centre. This matters because combining these imaging tools in one location lets scientists study the same patient with multiple techniques at the same time. MRI shows soft tissue structure in exquisite detail; PET-CT reveals where specific molecules—such as inflammatory markers or cancer cell receptors—are active in the body. Currently, researchers often have to shuttle patients between separate scanners in different buildings, losing time and data quality. Co-locating the machines removes that friction and allows truly integrated studies of how diseases develop and respond to treatment. If the centre succeeds, it will accelerate clinical trials in cardiovascular disease, inflammation, reproductive biology, and brain disorders. For example, a stroke patient could have their damaged brain tissue imaged with MRI while simultaneously tracking immune cell activity with PET, all in one session. This could shorten drug development timelines and improve diagnosis. The centre also feeds directly into the UK’s Clinical Research Networks, meaning findings from Edinburgh can be tested across multiple sites. The project is primarily infrastructure—enabling fundamental and translational science rather than delivering a specific therapy—but without such shared facilities, many clinical studies simply cannot happen.

View original technical description
Our objective is to establish a state-of-the-art integrated Clinical Research Imaging Centre to enable translational clinical research performed within the University of Edinburgh and particularly within the internationally renowned Centres for Cardiovascular Science, Inflammation Research, Reproductive Biology and Clinical Brain Sciences. Our vision is that the co-localisation of 3T whole-body magnetic resonance imaging with positron emission and computed tomography imaging will provide an unparalleled resource which will markedly enhance clinical research and experimental medicine within this highly productive and unique grouping of worldleading basic and clinical scientists, and feed directly into the newly established Clinical Research Networks. We are establishing the Clinical Research Imaging Centre in the University’s new Queen’s Medical Research Institute and have already secured the provision of combined positron emission and computed tomography, and a dedicated on-site cyclotron. We request funding and support for the provision of a 3T whole-body magnetic resonance imaging scanner and associated support costs. This enhanced magnetic resonance capability will build upon the University’s highly successful clinical neuroimaging infrastructure already established in Edinburgh through the Brain Imaging Research Centre and complement the juxtaposed Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Imaging Unit with its pre-clinical 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

View the original record at the funder ↗

Researchers

David Newby (Principal Investigator)

Related Research

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Original classification

Research Grant

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