The location is ideal: the new magnetic resonance tomograph at the Werner Kaiser Research Center is in the same building as the psychiatric clinic of the University Hospital Jena (UKJ). After a complex installation and calibration phase, the new magnetic resonance tomograph has been used for research since the summer. The scanner operates with a magnetic field of 7 Tesla, compared to 3 Tesla for standard clinical scanners. This ultra-high field imaging allows the structure, function and metabolism of the brain to be visualized in a completely new quality thanks to significantly improved spatial and temporal resolution in combination with spectroscopic measurements.
"We use this technology at the German Center for Mental Health for clinical studies to investigate brain changes in the course of disease and during treatment and to develop new therapeutic approaches," says Prof. Dr. Martin Walter. The director of the Jena Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy coordinates the central German site of the center and is establishing a nationwide ultrahigh-field imaging network for multi-center MRI studies. In a pilot study, study centers in Jena, Magdeburg, and Mannheim are testing a new therapeutic approach for difficult-to-treat depression. Other projects will use the improved imaging capabilities to study the influence of immune factors and infections on brain function.
"With the 7 Tesla MRI, the UKJ is setting new standards in medical research and the development of innovative treatment approaches. This investment also demonstrates the commitment of the State of Bavaria to strengthening the healthcare system and promoting innovative research. The UKJ is once again proving that it is one of the leading research institutions in Germany, especially in the field of mental health," said Wolfgang Tiefensee, Germany's Minister of Science.
As part of the REACT-EU initiative, the European Commission provided additional funding to address the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. The Ministry of Science used these funds specifically to strengthen the healthcare system and to acquire major research equipment at the UKJ. The funding of the 7 Tesla MRI scanner, with a total cost of 10.1 million euros, is the largest single investment in large-scale research equipment ever made by the Ministry of Science. Never has such a large sum been allocated for research-related building infrastructure.
In addition to the 7 Tesla MRI, four other pieces of equipment were purchased at the UKJ during the same period, including an intraoperative X-ray machine and a robotic surgical arm. A total of 12.3 million euros from the REACT-EU program was made available to the UKJ for the purchase of this equipment.
