Press Releases
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Baton Rouge, La - The Pennington Biomedical Research Center (PBRC) announced today that it has acquired a new, state-of-the-art high definition magnetic resonance (HDMR) scanner, also called a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The MRI will be the centerpiece of PBRC’s new imaging facilities.
The installation of the high (3T) field strength MRI will allow PBRC investigators to probe metabolism at the cellular level using a new technique called multinuclear spectroscopy.
Dr. Steven Smith, Associate Professor and Chief of the Inpatient Unit at PBRC, says, “The purpose of the instrument is not only to collect images of the inside of the body, but also to measure the function of the body, specifically energy metabolism, at the cellular and biochemical level. This will allow us to explore how people differ in terms of their cellular and molecular biochemistry, without having to take biopsies, and test the effectiveness of treatment to change the biochemistry and metabolism of the tissues.”
“This technology will also allow PBRC to compete with major medical centers across the US [and abroad] for grants and contracts that rely upon state-of-the-art technologies,” added Smith.
The new machine arrived Tuesday by flatbed truck and was hoisted into its new facility, located in the clinical research building at the Pennington Center.
This is the first 3Tesla MRI in Baton Rouge and the second in Louisiana. Tesla is a unit of measure of magnetic strength. The Signa® EXCITE 3.0T HD system from GE Healthcare, GE's third generation 3T design, allows for non-invasive measurements of cellular biochemistry, complementing the molecular and genetic capabilities at PBRC. It also provides more patient comfort due to the size of the instrument and by using noise reduction technology.
"The installation of the 3Tesla magnet is a significant milestone," says Glen Duncan, Director of Communications at PBRC. “We are one step closer to achieving priority number four of our Vision 2010 strategic plan, Expanding Clinical Research, Population Research and Imaging Facilities”.
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a campus of the Louisiana State University System and conducts both clinical and basic research. It is the largest academically-based nutrition research center in the world, with the greatest number of obesity researchers on faculty. The Center's nearly 600 employees occupy several buildings on the 234-acre campus.
Photo available at: http://www.pbrc.edu/photos/mri.jpg
Pennington Center Installs State-of-the-Art High Definition MRI System
Released: Thursday, December 22, 2005Baton Rouge, La - The Pennington Biomedical Research Center (PBRC) announced today that it has acquired a new, state-of-the-art high definition magnetic resonance (HDMR) scanner, also called a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The MRI will be the centerpiece of PBRC’s new imaging facilities.
The installation of the high (3T) field strength MRI will allow PBRC investigators to probe metabolism at the cellular level using a new technique called multinuclear spectroscopy.
Dr. Steven Smith, Associate Professor and Chief of the Inpatient Unit at PBRC, says, “The purpose of the instrument is not only to collect images of the inside of the body, but also to measure the function of the body, specifically energy metabolism, at the cellular and biochemical level. This will allow us to explore how people differ in terms of their cellular and molecular biochemistry, without having to take biopsies, and test the effectiveness of treatment to change the biochemistry and metabolism of the tissues.”
“This technology will also allow PBRC to compete with major medical centers across the US [and abroad] for grants and contracts that rely upon state-of-the-art technologies,” added Smith.
The new machine arrived Tuesday by flatbed truck and was hoisted into its new facility, located in the clinical research building at the Pennington Center.
This is the first 3Tesla MRI in Baton Rouge and the second in Louisiana. Tesla is a unit of measure of magnetic strength. The Signa® EXCITE 3.0T HD system from GE Healthcare, GE's third generation 3T design, allows for non-invasive measurements of cellular biochemistry, complementing the molecular and genetic capabilities at PBRC. It also provides more patient comfort due to the size of the instrument and by using noise reduction technology.
"The installation of the 3Tesla magnet is a significant milestone," says Glen Duncan, Director of Communications at PBRC. “We are one step closer to achieving priority number four of our Vision 2010 strategic plan, Expanding Clinical Research, Population Research and Imaging Facilities”.
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a campus of the Louisiana State University System and conducts both clinical and basic research. It is the largest academically-based nutrition research center in the world, with the greatest number of obesity researchers on faculty. The Center's nearly 600 employees occupy several buildings on the 234-acre campus.
Photo available at: http://www.pbrc.edu/photos/mri.jpg
