New Imaging Research & Development Center opens on UC’s medical campus
Facility unites academic medicine and industry to accelerate MRI innovation
The new Imaging Research & Development Center is officially open on the University of Cincinnati’s medical campus.
UC, UC Health, Cincinnati Children’s, GE HealthCare and JobsOhio celebrated the collaboration between academic medicine and industry during a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 27.
The facility houses an innovative GE HealthCare 3T wide-bore magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. One of only a handful of centers worldwide with this technology, the facility brings together researchers, clinicians and scientists to advance imaging innovation. In doing so, the center will improve patient care and outcomes by supporting clinical trials and expanding access to imaging technologies.
Achala Vagal, MD, chair of the Department of Radiology at UC’s new MRI research and development center. Photo/Jenna Adkins-Manuel/UC Marketing + Brand.
“What is opening is more than a building or a scanner — it is a commitment that the most difficult questions in medicine will be answered here, together, with the right tools, the right people and the right partnerships,” said Achala Vagal, MD, endowed chair and professor in the Department of Radiology in the College of Medicine and UC Health neuroradiologist. Vagal also serves as the college’s associate dean of clinical and translational science and training and co-director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training.
Ohio's hospitals, academic institutions and life sciences companies are among the best in the world, and by working together, they will advance the next generation of healthcare.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine
Through UC's partnership with other world-class institutions, the Imaging Research & Development Center aligns with broader efforts to strengthen and expand Cincinnati’s position as a national hub for healthcare research and life sciences innovation. The center will also contribute to workforce development by creating opportunities for engineers, technologists, clinicians and researchers to collaborate in an innovative environment.
“Ohio's hospitals, academic institutions and life sciences companies are among the best in the world, and by working together, they will advance the next generation of healthcare,” said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. “As a result of this unique and powerful partnership, Cincinnati will play an integral role in cutting-edge MRI research and development that will have wide-reaching impacts here in Ohio and across the world.”
GE HealthCare signage inside UC's new Imaging Research & Development Center. Photo/Jenna Adkins-Manuel/UC Marketing + Brand.
Research at the new facility will focus on improving diagnostic accuracy, enhancing patient comfort and supporting personalized care. Researchers and clinicians will collaborate on projects ranging from investigator-initiated studies and pilot programs to large-scale national and international clinical trials.
Advanced MRI technologies explored and evaluated at the facility have the potential to reveal imaging biomarkers for early disease detection and targeted treatments. AI-enabled workflow improvements and advanced imaging techniques may also help reduce scan times and improve accessibility for patients who have difficulty remaining still or holding their breath during exams.
Gregory Postel, MD, dean of the College of Medicine, speaks to Vivek J. Khandwala, PhD, administrative director of the new Imaging Research & Development Center. Photo/Jenna Adkins-Manuel/UC Marketing + Brand.
“The official opening of the Imaging Research & Development Center marks a monumental step forward in our ability to drive groundbreaking medical discovery on our campus," said Gregory Postel, MD, dean of the College of Medicine, Christian R. Holmes professor, executive vice president for health affairs at UC and chair of the UC Health Board of Directors. “This collaboration — an intersection of industry and academic medicine — gives our faculty and physician-scientists the cutting-edge tools necessary to advance imaging science, push the boundaries of clinical discovery and train the next generation of leaders in health innovation.”
UC's new center in the news
Featured image at top: Leaders of the new Imaging Research & Development Center gather for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting to mark its official opening. Photo/Jenna Adkins-Manuel/UC Marketing + Brand.
The exterior of the new Imaging Research & Development Center on UC's medical campus. Photo/Jenna Adkins-Manuel/UC Marketing + Brand.
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The University of Cincinnati drives Ohio's economy with a $22.7 billion statewide impact, supporting over 125,000 jobs. Through innovation, research and workforce development, UC fuels economic growth and enhances quality of life across the state.
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