Upgrade of MRI scanners at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging at UCL. (360G-Wellcome-089268_Z_09_Z)

Reliable and high-performance scanning facilities are integral to the future success of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (WTCN). The current two MRI systems at the WTCN are reaching the end of their effective life-time and are not equipped with the latest advances in MRI technology. Consequently, cutting-edge neuroscience programs at the WTCN may soon be compromised unless we proceed with their replacement and upgrade. We have developed an upgrade strategy consisting of 2 phases. In p hase 1, over the next 12 months, we will replace the 1.5T Sonata whole-body scanner with the latest 3T hardware and will upgrade the 3T Allegra head scanner from 4 to 8 receive channels. In phase 2, implemented in 24-36 months, we will replace the 3T head scanner with the latest generation of hardware. Currently, we envisage a replacement with a 3T system but this phased programme keeps open an option for an upgrade to a 7T platform if considered appropriate on scientific grounds. The proposed u pgrade strategy will significantly improve the performance of the Centre's imaging platforms, maintain a diversified scanning infrastructure, and make novel imaging approaches more tractable, thereby securing the leadership of the Centre in applied imaging neuroscience.