Located on the lower ground floor of the Experimental Medicine Facility, the neuroimaging consists of a 3T functional GE MRI scanner, a control room, an image analysis room, clinical preparation rooms and research office.
The coexistence of MRI, EEG, TMS, the Virtual Reality Suite, behavioural assessment and biological sampling facilities under the same roof provides a unique environment for multimodal imaging and integrated collection of large data sets.
This imaging facility is perfectly suited for the assessment of less ambulatory patients, especially when serial assessments are needed, for example after stroke, surgery or brain injury.
Please contact: Maryla Kaminska (mri.booking@kcl.ac.uk) for scanning related research queries or contact our CRF Manager.
MRI scanner
A 3Tesla GE Healthcare MR750 MRI scanner provides state-of-the-art MR imaging modalities in all areas of clinical research.
- Equipped with RF coils for neuro (brain, cerebro-vascular and spine), abdominal and extremity imaging
- The scanner also includes capabilities for multi-nuclear spectroscopy (1H, 13C and 31P).
- The primary clinical target of this unit is the application of MRI to the study of acute and chronic presentations of traumatic brain injury (head trauma, stroke and tumour). To facilitate this, the unit is also equipped with all devices necessary to monitor and maintain anaesthetised patients while scanning.
- Neuro-applications are a primary research objective of this unit; to this aim the scanner has capability for high-speed, high-resolution Functional Imaging, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, MR Angiography and Arterial Spin Labelling.
- Another target area for this unit is the application of MR imaging technology to the characterisation of candidate psychoactive compounds
EEG
- Two state-of-the-art electroencephalography (EEG) purpose-built rooms for both supine and sitting recording and use with computer stimuli.
- Electronic and acoustic shielding provides a uniquely optimal environment for the study of subjects undergoing EEG monitoring; and allowing highest-quality multi-modal data collection.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
We can host TMS research studies (especially in conjunction with EEG) and have ‘Visor2′ which accurately evaluates functional organisation of the human cortex using non-invasive, navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Clinical preparation area
With its own dedicated room, our clinical preparation area is equipped with all facilities necessary for clinical assessment of patients and healthy control subjects prior to and after scanning.
The room has access to the MRI scanning suite via a dedicated RF screened hatch, incorporated into the room’s RF shield, to collect blood samples from people whilst being scanned.
- 2x MRI compatible IRadimed infusion pumps
- 1x -20 freezer (short-term storage of samples for subsequent analysis)
- 1x Seca weighing scales
- 1x Eppendorf refrigerated centrifuge
Interview and image processing rooms
- Adjacent to the unit there is a room for interviewing, screening and training of subjects before and/or after scanning.
- A dedicated team oversees implementing software programs for administration of sensory and cognitive paradigms for functional imaging
- A large range of hand-held devices such as button boxes, joysticks, pressure sensitive controls etc have been built for the execution of such functional paradigms in the scanner.