Using advanced measurements in scans for better brain imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a continually evolving technology, probing information from atoms and molecules to measure brain physiology.

Improving brain imaging is key to getting a clearer picture of the brain. Imaging is the only way we can see inside the brain without surgery and so is critical for monitoring disease.

Why funding is needed

Paying for MRI scans for imaging research

A 15-minute MRI scan costs £100. Typically, 100 scans would be required to provide the proof of concept needed to start to collect this information in clinical practice for patient benefit.

More information about brain imaging research

Imaging advances often work alongside other technologies, like brain stimulation and focused ultrasound, which help us target new treatments more accurately.

With extra funding, we can buy new equipment, come up with new ways to measure things using our current tools, and train people with the skills needed to turn these measurements into real benefits for patients.

We can also attract physics and engineering graduates into the field to invent robust new measurements in line with our evolving understanding of disease mechanisms.

These measurements will allow us to diagnose, predict and monitor disease processes and provide critical information when testing the effectiveness of new treatments.

A 15-minute MRI scan can help us acquire the most advanced measurements in patients. This will allow us to test whether the new measurements we’re taking can help us target treatments more effectively and track disease progress.