Building work has started on the new national MRI facility being established at the University of Nottingham that will be home to the UK's most powerful MRI scanner, which will be used by researchers and doctors to give unprecedented insights into brain function and the mechanisms of human disease.
The new magnet hall will be a large extension to the existing Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre and Midlands contractor GF Tomlinson has been appointed to deliver the project. The 250 sq. metre structure is the first part of the unique development of the national facility that will be home to the 11.7 Tesla Ultra High Field MRI scanner - a 70-tonne, state-of-the-art system that will enhance the UK's capability for world-leading brain imaging research.
The new scanner will be 1000 times more powerful than the first scanners developed by the late Sir Peter Mansfield, and will help transform understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's and neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and schizophrenia.
Ultra-high field (11.7T) MRI offers huge benefits in terms of improved sensitivity which will enable higher spatial resolution imaging, faster imaging, and greater sensitivity to physiological changes. The scanner will also provide a step change in the capabilities of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to provide information about the biochemistry of the human body.
The new scanner needs very specific conditions to operate and the new Magnet Hall will be an iron-shielded space designed to safely contain the scanner's magnetic field. Surrounding infrastructure will include a control and equipment room, clinical spaces, patient waiting areas and essential welfare facilities to provide a comprehensive clinical and research environment.
Professor Richard Bowtell, Director of the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre is leading the project and said: "It's a huge moment to see the building starting to take shape after months of meticulous planning for this complex project and we're delighted to be working with GF Tomlinson."
We're extremely proud to be building on Sir Peter's Mansfield's legacy that started here with the invention of MRI in the 1970's. The Ultra-High field scanner is the next generation in technology and will provide a step change in the capabilities of imaging research, unlocking new opportunities for collaboration and innovation to bring new understanding to a range of diseases.
Andy Sewards, Group Chairman, G F Tomlinson,, said: "It's a privilege to once again be supporting the University of Nottingham in delivering a facility that will have a lasting legacy in clinical research. Having previously completed landmark schemes such as the Biodiscovery Institute, we are proud to be working once again at University Park Campus - as well as delivering projects across the University's Castle Meadow and Jubilee Campuses.
"The Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre extension will become a cornerstone of medical excellence in the UK, and we're pleased to be contributing our expertise to such a nationally significant facility."
The new national scanning facility is being funded through the UKRI Infrastructure Fund. The UKRI Infrastructure Fund supports the facilities, equipment and resources that are essential for researchers and innovators to do ground-breaking work and will help to create a long-term pipeline of research and innovation infrastructure investment priorities for the next 10 to 20 years.
This project is of great significance, not just for the University but for Nottingham, the UK and the global research community, and it's fantastic to see it starting to take shape. The University of Nottingham has a proud history as the birthplace of MRI and has been at the forefront of this lifesaving technology for over 50 years. The new national facility will continue this and drive innovation by attracting scientists from across the world to collaborate on transforming our understanding some of the biggest health challenges facing society.
