MRI: Development of a Next Gen 9.4T Magnetic Resonance system for Translational Neuroscience

This award supports the development and implementation of a 9.4 tesla magnetic resonance imaging system which will be one of the most powerful imaging systems in the world for neuroscientists to study the human brain. This neuroimager will be used to safely and noninvasively observe human brain anatomy, metabolism and function at the highest spatial, spectral and temporal resolutions achievable.

This instrument will bring together neuroscience researchers from throughout the Greater New York City, Tri-State area. Centrally located in one of world’s top neuroscience communities, this 9.4T neuroimager will foster significant new discovery in understanding the human brain and behavior. Educational and training programs are also supported.

A new generation of trained engineers and scientists and a new level of science and discovery will follow.

The grant itself supports the development of a novel second-generation console to optimize the quality of data obtained from this ultra-high field strength magnet. This revolutionary engineering project is conducted as a collaboration between Columbia, NYU and Cornell engineering schools and New York State industries including GE Global Research and Communications Power Corp.

This console will be interfaced to an existing 9.4T head-only magnet to complete the neuro-imaging system. It will be housed in a new ultra-high-field imaging laboratory being built separately for this project. Participating in this project are both academic faculty and industry engineers, students and technicians.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.