Wide-Bore 3T MRI System for Advancing Multidisciplinary Research - Project Summary/Abstract This application requests support for the acquisition of a United Imaging uMR Ultra 3T MRI scanner to be installed at the Imaging Research Center (IRC) at the University of California, Davis. The new system is urgently needed to address the severe overutilization of the IRC’s existing 3T scanner, which serves as the primary human imaging platform for a broad community of NIH-funded investigators. Current demand exceeds capacity, with wait times frequently surpassing three weeks, jeopardizing the feasibility and integrity of longitudinal, time- sensitive, and protocol-driven studies. The proposed Ultra 3T MRI system will alleviate this capacity bottleneck and expand access to cutting-edge neuroimaging and body imaging capabilities. The Ultra offers a 70 cm wide bore for improved participant comfort, state-of-the-art gradient performance (100 mT/m, 346 T/m/s), a 192-channel RF system, and an AI-powered reconstruction platform that enables accelerated, motion-robust, and high-resolution imaging. These features will support advanced functional, structural, diffusion, and perfusion imaging techniques, as well as emerging multi-nuclear and quantitative protocols. This shared instrument will support a diverse range of research projects spanning neuroscience, musculoskeletal imaging, kidney disease, metabolism, and pediatric studies. It will enable high-throughput, reproducible imaging in both single-site and multi-site settings, accelerating progress toward the health-related goals of more than 30 NIH-funded projects. UC Davis has demonstrated long-standing commitment to imaging research through sustained investment in infrastructure, faculty, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The IRC is staffed with experienced technical and administrative personnel and is fully equipped to support the operation of this new system. The Ultra 3T MRI will be managed as a shared resource with rigorous scheduling and oversight to ensure equitable access for all users. In summary, acquisition of the United Imaging Ultra 3T MRI scanner will resolve a critical capacity limitation, foster methodological innovation, and strengthen UC Davis’s leadership in translational and collaborative imaging science.
