Scientists in the Department of Biophysics have been engaged in MRI research for more than 20 years, beginning with the installation of one of the first 1.5 T scanners produced by General Electric. Early papers were mostly concerned with development of surface coils tailored to nearly every body part in a context of musculo-skeletal radiology. In 1992 MCW students and faculty wrote the first paper to be published on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and available resources became focused on the new field of fMRI. Technology development continued to be important, including introduction of the local gradient coil for fMRI, and development of the widely used fMRI software program AFNI (Analysis of Functional NeuroImages). Currently, emphasis on technology for fMRI continues, but increasingly MRI research in the department involves mechanisms of fMRI contrast in brain and applications of fMRI to problems in neuroscience. Extension of MRI research to cardiology is a recent initiative.
Currently six faculty members in Biophysics are engaged in MRI research, Professors James Hyde, Shi-Jiang Li, Andrzej Jesmanowicz, Daniel Rowe, Kathleen Schmainda and Ming Zhao. See the individual descriptions of the research that is carried on by these investigators. There are 14 individuals pursuing the PhD degree in Biophysics under the mentorship of these faculty members. A list of abstracts presented at the 2008 meeting of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine provides a comprehensive overview of current research. More information about the Magnetic Resonance track in the Biophysics Graduate Program, including course offerings, can be obtained by clicking on: "MRI Graduate Program". The number of PhD graduates in Biophysics with emphasis on MRI is extensive. See "Alumni". Many of these individuals have become national leaders in MRI.
In the spring of 2005 a new imaging facility was constructed adjacent to the existing Department of Biophysics offices and laboratories and two new MRI scanners were installed. One of these, a GE 3T scanner, was purchased using an award from the High End Instrumentation Program of the National Center for Research Resources of NIH. It is totally dedicated to research. The other, a 9.4T scanner for small animal research, was purchased using an award from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, White House (ONDCP). Another GE 3T also dedicated to research was installed in the spring of 2005 in hospital space. It is more suitable for translational research involving patients. See Facilities for additional information about the scanners. Administratively, the two human 3T scanners are assigned to the Functional Imaging Research Center (FIRC). All Biophysics MRI faculty are members of FIRC. That site provides numerous other links to fMRI research that is ongoing in other departments of the College.
The 9.4 T scanner is administered by the Department of Biophysics. We foresee extension of animal research to include not only drugs of abuse, but also rodent fMRI, genomics, and cancer. The new facility includes extensive space for animal surgery and animal conditioning.