In 2021, Professor Matthias Stuber, Head of the CIBM MRI CHUV-UNIL Section, and 13 interdisciplinary co-investigators were awarded a SNSF R’Equip grant for the project “Low-Field MRI – The Next Frontier”. The funding supported the acquisition of a Siemens MAGNETOM Free.Max 0.55T ultra-low-field MRI system, hosted at CHUV, Lausanne.
The project brought together researchers from CHUV and UNIL including experts in MR methods, image reconstruction, neuroimaging, cardiology, oncology, pulmonology, and clinical applications. From the earliest kick-start meeting, the team identified opportunities to use low-field MRI for technically ambitious research, future grants, and broader access to MRI technology.
In December 2023, CIBM celebrated the scanner’s arrival at CHUV and inauguration during our Annual Symposium. The installation marked an important step toward more accessible, sustainable, and AI-enabled medical imaging, with potential applications ranging from neurology and cardiology to oncology and pulmonary imaging.
Today, the Low-Field MRI scanner supports research exploring new imaging methods, improving image quality, and investigating novel diagnostic biomarkers in areas including fetal imaging, cardiovascular imaging, motion, interventions, and implants. Its lower cost, greater accessibility, compatibility with implants, and reduced environmental impact make it a promising platform for projects that could benefit patients in Switzerland and worldwide.
We are delighted to present a series of 4 videos showcasing the ongoing research projects using the Low-Field MRI scanner.
The first video provides a general overview of the scanner and its research potential. The next three videos focus in fetal imaging, cardiovascular and exercise imaging, and interventional MRI.
JOIN US!
If you are interested in discussing a project idea or exploring feasibility of using the Low-Filed MRI scanner, please do not hesitate to contact us by sending an email or you can submit a new project application online here.
Finally, we would like to warmly thank everyone who made this video series possible.
Enjoy the screening!