Toronto partners launch 7T MRI facility

TORONTO – Leaders from Toronto’s academic health research community this week launched the largest multi-site collaboration in clinical imaging research the city has seen, with the ambitious aim of revolutionizing the understanding and treatment of the most challenging health disorders of our time.

Building on and amplifying the pooled expertise and resources of seven Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) institutions, and the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto’s first 7-Tesla MRI system for clinical research was officially opened at the Bayview campus of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Director of operations Dr. Simon Graham noted that the new centre involved an investment of about $30 million, including approximately $10 million for the Siemens scanner.

The 7T MRI facility, one of only three available for clinical research in Canada, marks a major milestone for brain research, unlocking ultra-high-resolution imaging that will transform how scientists will study and understand the brain and other organs, opening up immense research possibilities.

Scientists from across the TAHSN institutions will develop a better understanding of how the central nervous system works with other systems in the body in order to develop treatments for patients.

Dr. Kâmil Uludağ, clinical director, said the advanced resolution of the system means, for example, that cancerous tumours of the brain could be spotted sooner, at a much smaller size than before. That’s much better for patient outcomes, when the tumour is either surgically removed or treated in other ways. “This can lead to better diagnosis, prognosis, treatments and personalized medicine,” he said.

The 7T MRI system will:

1. Produce extremely detailed images in high resolution, enabling scientists to see previously invisible features of the brain
2. Allow researchers to see the chemical make-up of the brain
3. Drive precision therapies – from MR-guided focused ultrasound to deep brain stimulation to more effective cancer radiation treatments

The leading-edge technology and partnership proudly supports Toronto-wide collaboration and innovation, and positions Toronto at the forefront of discovery in neuroscience and beyond.

The 7T MRI has been made possible with support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Ontario Research Fund (ORF) and collaboration between TAHSN partners: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University Health Network, Unity Health Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Baycrest, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine.