Multi-User Ultra-High Field Clinical Imaging Research Centre for London (360G-Wellcome-201526_Z_16_Z)

We propose to create a collaborative multi-user, multi-institution 7T (ultra- high field) Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy (MRI/S) Clinical Imaging Research Facility (CIRF) to be centrally located at St Thomas’ Hospital as a regional resource for London, providing a platform for collaboration between researchers drawn from the major Universities and centres of excellence within London. With more than matched funding from King’s, Imperial, University College London and Institute of Cancer Research, we seek funding to deploy a state of the art 7T MRI/S system combined with comprehensive patient examination and care facilities, biology and engineering labs, IT infrastructure and core support staff. We will take a broad, cross- organ, cross-disease approach, focusing on studies of patients rather than healthy volunteers and with a complementary methodology programme designed to enhance clinical research opportunities. We will leverage the large pool of technical and clinical imaging research expertise in London and draw study participants from London’s massive population augmented by its many national tertiary referral centres for most disease specialities. A concerted effort across London will ensure that the facility is extremely well used, has ample clinical and technical support, and a capability to innovate. The proposal complements the non-human imaging research at the CRICK.