Robarts Research Institute

Canada’s most powerful MRI system arrives at Western

Nov 23, 2023

The Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping (CFMM) at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is now home to Canada’s first 15.2 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The $6-million pre-clinical scanner – only the second of its kind in North America and sixth in the world – is a boost for neuroimaging research at Western, enabling researchers to study the brain with unprecedented resolution. The new MRI system arrived in November and will support interdisciplinary research focused on neurological disorders – including pioneering research in neuroimmunology led by newly announced Canada Excellence Research Chair Dr. Robyn Klein and a multi-centre project focused on drug development for neurological conditions led by Ravi Menon, PhD. “This is one of the most powerful MRI systems in the world,” said Menon, professor and scientific director of CFMM. “The unprecedented spatial resolution and unique image contrast will help advance our understanding of neurological processes and assess new treatments in mouse models of disease.” It also offers exciting opportunities for trainees to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology and advanced imaging techniques. CFMM, located at Robarts Research Institute, houses Canada’s most advanced ultra-high field MRI platform, including Siemens 3T and 7T human MRI scanners and a Bruker 9.4T pre-clinical scanner. MRI systems use a high-powered magnetic field to capture precise and extremely detailed images. Tesla is the scientific unit used to quantify the strength of this field, with higher tesla values indicating a stronger magnetic field and therefore, higher image resolution. The Bruker 15.2T preclinical system will be housed in a biocontainment level 2 facility at CFMM, carefully designed by Joe Gati, managing director at CFMM, and his team for research involving infectious pathogens and other biological materials. “With the 15.2T MRI system, Western will be well-positioned to attract top-tier researchers and collaborators and expand its leadership in imaging and neuroscience research,” said Menon. The system is expected to be ready for use by mid-2024.

Imaging helps understand empathy loss in dementia

Mar 8, 2021

MRIs show subtle changes in the brains of patients with early-onset dementia, a finding that could lead to treatments for emotional processing deficits.

Study pinpoints role of language disruptions in psychosis

Feb 18, 2021

Like a small airport trying to handle too much air traffic, parts of the brain not meant to process language are trying to perform this complex job in patients with psychosis.

World Cancer Day: Using cancer cells to treat cancer

Feb 4, 2021

By using re-engineered cancer cells to deliver treatment to tumour sites, a team at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry is rethinking cell therapy

Medical software licence underlines WORLDiscoveries success

Feb 1, 2021

Ting-Yim Lee’s imaging software is an example of cutting-edge technology applied to improving health care.

Q and A with Lisa Saksida: on equity, science and advocacy for women in STEM

Dec 2, 2020

Lisa Saksida, co-director of BrainsCAN, has been named one of Canada’s WXN Top 100, a recognition of women who advocate for workforce diversity and inspire tomorrow’s leaders.

Vanguard innovator may have found first-ever sepsis treatment

Nov 4, 2020

Dr. Qingping Feng is tantalizingly close to learning whether the sepsis treatment he has worked on for more than two decades will ultimately help save millions of lives.

Student idea may box out infection during intubation

Jun 3, 2020

A student’s idea – brought from concept to testing by a host of Western experts – has the potential to reduce exposure to COVID-19 and lead to a safer working environment for health-care professionals.

Reichelt: Prevent junk food from trashing teen brains

Dec 12, 2019

Adolescents are the greatest consumers of calorie-rich ‘junk’ foods. During puberty, many children have an insatiable appetite as rapid growth requires lots of energy. Heightened metabolism and growth spurts can protect against obesity, to an extent. But excessively eating high-calorie junk foods and increasingly sedentary lifestyles can outweigh any metabolic protection.

Lung image studies show unique nature of asthma

Dec 4, 2019

A pair of Western-led lung imaging studies, including one performed in non-identical twin patients with lifelong asthma, have shown that airway defects in the lungs of asthmatic patients are like fingerprints –they have a unique pattern and maintain that pattern over time.

Reichelt: What science says about the brain and sugar

Nov 19, 2019

As a neuroscientist my research centres on how modern day ‘obesogenic,’ or obesity-promoting, diets change the brain. I want to understand how what we eat alters our behaviour and whether brain changes can be mitigated by other lifestyle factors.

Big data aids in exploring mental illness

Oct 17, 2019

Dr. Lena Palaniyappan, along with an international team of researchers, looks to provide relief or millions around the globe by pairing brain stimulation with artificial intelligence and big data to uncover the role of genetics in successfully treating mental illness.

Study targets ‘fingerprint’ of human consciousness

Oct 10, 2019

Western researchers have moved a step closer to identifying a ‘brain fingerprint’ for consciousness – a discovery that will unlock further understanding into why some patients, presumed to be vegetative, are still aware of the world them.