X-Message-Number: 24683
From: "Basie" <>
Subject: World's Most Powerful MRI 
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2004 21:08:45 -0400

UIC Unveils World's Most Powerful MRI for Decoding the Human Brain

[Images and a movie are available online]


The University of Illinois at Chicago unveiled today the world's most
powerful magnetic resonance imaging machine for human studies, capable of
imaging not just the anatomy but metabolism within the brain.

This advanced technology ushers in a new age of metabolic imaging that will
help researchers understand the workings of the human brain, detect diseases
before their clinical signs appear, develop targeted drug therapies for
illnesses like stroke and provide a better understanding of learning
disabilities.

Central to the technology is a 9.4-tesla magnet, larger than any other
human-sized magnet, built by GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric
Company. A tesla is a large measuring unit of magnetic strength.

"This technological leap forward is as revolutionary to the medical
community as the transition from radio to television was for society," said
Dr. Keith Thulborn, director of the UIC Center for Magnetic Resonance
Research, at the facility's grand opening today. "GE's magnet is introducing
a whole new dimension to imaging by enabling researchers to better
understand how the human brain thinks, learns, fights disease and responds
to experimental therapies."

"UIC's new Center for Magnetic Resonance Research featuring GE's 9.4-tesla
magnet will be a premier international center for human brain research,"
Thulborn said. "What we learn here in Chicago will be shared with
researchers and physicians around the world."

A New Dimension in Human Brain Imaging

An MRI machine images internal structures of the body using magnetism, radio
waves and a computer. A circular magnet surrounds the patient and creates a
strong magnetic field that aligns atoms in the body. A pulse of radio waves
then rearranges them, creating a signal that is passed to a computer,
producing an image.

The current industry standard for MRI systems is 1.5 tesla, which limits
researchers to imaging water molecules. As a result, only anatomical changes
can be detected and monitored.

By contrast, the 9.4-tesla magnet, which is three times more powerful than
current state-of-the-art clinical MRI magnets and more than 100,000 times
stronger than the earth's magnetic field, will enable UIC researchers to
detect signals from sodium, phosphorus, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen -- the
metabolic building blocks of brain function and human thought.

"Brain scanning is pushed to the limit with the current technology -- we
need the sensitivity of the 9.4-tesla magnet to go beyond anatomic imaging
to metabolic imaging," Thulborn said. "Metabolism provides the energy that
drives brain function and therefore offers the key to uncovering the
mysteries of the mind."

Thulborn worked with GE researchers to develop the 9.4-tesla MRI system.

"We developed this 9.4-tesla magnet in conjunction with Dr. Thulborn to
provide the research community an in-depth look into how metabolism drives
brain function and to provide answers to some of the brain's greatest
mysteries," said Dennis Cooke, vice president of GE Healthcare's Global MR
Business. "This is a one-of-a-kind tool in the hands of UIC's capable
researchers, who aim to identify, develop and apply innovative applications
for diagnosing and treating patients."

"GE is committed to developing technologies that enable researchers to push
the frontiers of medicine and pioneer new treatments."

Applying 9.4-Tesla Research to Human Health and Learning

Specifically, Thulborn will use the 9.4-tesla MRI scanner to help identify
and monitor many common conditions and diseases of the brain -- including
stroke, Alzheimer's, autism and mental illness.

"The work we're doing mapping human thoughts brings so much promise to the
future of medical research, specifically to our ability to really understand
more about brain diseases," said Thulborn. "The medical and social
implications of this technology include more personalized healthcare and
earlier intervention to prevent disease."

In addition, Thulborn plans to apply the 9.4-tesla system to observing and
potentially treating cognitive learning disorders, like attention deficit
disorder.

"If we can understand how children learn, we can tailor educational programs
to better teach them, regardless of whether they have learning difficulties.
By understanding the different ways that the brain learns, more efficient
and effective learning programs can be produced for such skills as reading,
music and mathematics," said Thulborn.

About the University of Illinois at Chicago

UIC ranks among the nation's top 50 universities in federal research funding
and is Chicago's largest university with 25,000 students, 12,000 faculty and
staff, 15 colleges and the state's major public medical center. A hallmark
of the campus is the Great Cities Commitment, through which UIC faculty,
students and staff engage with community, corporate, foundation and
government partners in hundreds of programs to improve the quality of life
in metropolitan areas around the world. For more information about UIC,
visit www.uic.edu

About GE Healthcare

GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies that will shape
a new age of patient care. GE Healthcare's expertise in medical imaging and
information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems,
disease research, drug discovery and biopharmaceuticals is dedicated to
detecting disease earlier and tailoring treatment for individual patients.
GE Healthcare offers a broad range of services to improve productivity in
healthcare and enable healthcare providers to better diagnose, treat and
manage patients with conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer's and
cardiovascular diseases.

GE Healthcare is a $14 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE)
that is headquartered in the United Kingdom. Worldwide, GE Healthcare
employs more than 42,500 people committed to serving healthcare
professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more
information about GE Healthcare, visit Return to UIC Home Page

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