About us:

History: The Core Facility was established in 2010 after a long term collaboration between Section for Neuroradiology (Prof. dr. med. Per Hj. Nakstad) and the TOP project (later SFF NORMENT; Prof. dr. med. Ole A. Andreassen), both at Ullevål, Oslo University Hospital. The installation of a 3.0T GE Signa HDxt MRI scanner in 2007 provided the technological basis for the Core Facility. In 2015, the GE HDxt was upgraded to a GE Discovery MR 750 3.0T. In 2019, the scanner was upgraded to GE Signa Premier 70 cm bore. The new scanner is an advanced MRI system incorporating new coils and gradient technology, which will allow us to provide service to users with state-of-the-art scanning equipment. From 2015 there are several ongoing research projects (see Ongoing projects).

Aims: The aim of the Core Facility (CF) at Oslo University Hospital is to provide state-of-the-art facilities and expertise for the acquisition and analysis of advanced MRI neuroimaging data for all types of brain disorders. The CF will support the use of new research methods at other regional hospitals. Our aims are in line with the regional research strategy, translating new technology into clinical research, collaborate with several hospitals and research groups in the region, expanding the close collaboration with international experts and increasing the focus on innovation through a research agreement with General Electric (GE). 

We apply novel neuroimaging technology to investigate disease mechanisms in a range of clinical brain disorders. The CF will meet the increasing demand for developing sensitive, specific and low cost neuroimaging methods for detailed characterization of large patient populations, with the goal to improve diagnostics and treatment stratification. We provide services for a range of research groups scanning large cohorts of patients including traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative (Alzheimer’s disease), neuropsychiatric and cerebrovascular diseases, multiple sclerosis and brain tumors. The CF also recruits and obtain consent from patients investigates in clinical routine MR neuroimaging.

The CF consists of a multidisciplinary team involving several local departments and clinical staff. We have extended collaboration with Department of Diagnostic Physics with dedicated MRI physicists who provide expertise to development of research protocols including fMRI, DTI, elastography and perfusion methods such as ASL. They contribute to consolidation and quality assurance of new standardized research protocol for human brain research and brain diseases.