The field strength of 7 tesla (T) corresponds with roughly 140.000 times the earth magnetic field and is generated by a 44 ton superconducting electromagnet with its inner part cooled by liquid helium to around -270°C/-450 °F/3 K.
The ultra-high magnetic field strength of 7T enables us to uncover structure, function and chemistry of the body’s interior with unprecedented precision. As such, it gives us a much more detailed insight into human (patho)physiology as compared to clinical MR scanners, which typically range from 1.5 to 4T. Particularly brain research benefits from the ultra-high field strength.
In the scope of the Danish National 7T MR Project, the 7T scanner is available as a research resource to the whole of Denmark. 7T MR scanners are not approved for clinical use, hence the scanner is fully dedicated to research.
Current 7T projects include:
- Brain diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and spectroscopy (DWS) in multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in schizophrenia
- Brain 1H-MRS, structural imaging and cognition across the lifespan
- Liver carbon (13C) MRS in diabetes
- A particular focus lies on the development of new MR methodologies and hardware.
National collaborations involve:
- Technical University of Denmark
- University of Copenhagen
- Copenhagen University Hospitals
International collaborations have been established with:
- Lund University, Sweden
- Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
- University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Korea Basic Science Institute, South Korea