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In October 2015, Aalto Brain Centre, Aalto NeuroImaging and Aalto University School of Science organised a symposium, 'Ultra-High Field MRI: Transition to Human 7 T in Finland', to lay a foundation for the acquisition of a high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The symposium brought together international experts in the field and potential users of the equipment.

The expert panel of the symposium unanimously agreed that Finland will not be able to keep abreast with the top research of world-class imaging neuroscience without a high-field, e.g. 7 Tesla, MRI scanner intended for human use. A memo of the meeting has just been published and can be downloaded .

In addition to presentations, the most important outcome of the symposium of autumn 2015 came from the panel discussion, in which international experts joined researchers to reflect on the benefits and opportunities provided by high-field MRI not only for basic research and medical research, but also for future diagnostics.

Those involved in the Aalto NeuroImaging infrastructure, administered by the Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, have promoted the project after the symposium by investigating alternatives offered by equipment suppliers as well as funding opportunities. The project is forwarded in a collaborative spirit with other researchers and institutions in the field. The aim is to establish a national research centre operating according to the open access principle. Aalto University will apply for funding for this national-level project, e.g. in the Academy of Finland's call for research infrastructures at the spring of 2016.

For more information:
Veikko Jousmäki
veikko.jousmaki@aalto.fi
+358-400952525

Aalto NeuroImaging, ANI
Department of Neuroscience and Medical Engineering
Aalto University School of Science