The Centre opened in 2006 and is situated on the Health Innovation Neighbourhood. We operate in conjunction with Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for all clinical research work and we are part of the Centre for In Vivo Imaging.

An original investment of £5.4million was required, with capital funding coming from many sources including:

• One North East
• the Northern Rock Foundation
• Newcastle Healthcare Charity
• the Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust
• HEFCE (SRIF2)
• the Barclay Foundation
• Newcastle University
• private donations
• Charlie Crowe scanner appeal

Building specifications

With more than 900m2 of research space, the Centre is equipped with 2 high field strength magnetic resonance scanners and full facilities throughout for clinical MR research and associated technical developments. It has been designed around the needs and comfort of research volunteers. 

Scanner specifications

Our Philips scanners have the following specifications: 3 Tesla dStream MRI systems; Quasar Dual Gradients (with SofTone noise reduction) 80mT/m, 200T/m/s slew rate; 32 reciever channel RF system; 2nd (broadband) transmit channel providing multi-nuclear capability; a full range of head, body and peripheral coils for MRI; and a range of coils for 31P, 13C, 7Li, 19F and 23Na measurement.

Patient monitoring

We have vital sign monitoring equipment as part of the scanner. There are waveguides for infusion lines from the console area and a covered floor channel for safe passage of infusion lines to the magnet end.

Functional MRI

Our functional MRI facilities include: a visual display system (via external data projection); auditory presentation system; subject feedback system (response boxes with multiple configurations); e-prime software environments for fMRI task development; and an eye tracker.

Clinical

We have 2 study rooms and 1 screening/interview room. The study rooms are fully equipped for venepuncture, blood glucose monitoring, infusion studies, indirect calorimetry, blood pressure and electrocardiogram monitoring.

Find out how to access services at the Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre.

MR Workshop

The workshop supports basic MR Physics development, MR coil design and construction of any required research equipment.