March 5, 2025
Fewer than 10 7-Tesla MRI scanners in North America have earned accreditation through the American College of Radiology
University of Missouri Health Care’s 7-Tesla (7T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner has achieved accreditation through the American College of Radiology, which describes its process as the “gold standard in medical imaging.”
MU Health Care’s 7T MRI, located in the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building, is the most powerful scanner available to patients in North America, allowing researchers and clinicians to see inside the brain and knee like never before. There are fewer than 40 7T MRI scanners on the continent, and fewer than 10 have achieved accreditation through the American College of Radiology.
“We pursued accreditation early on because our 7T MRI scanner sees a higher level of clinical use than most 7T MRI machines in the United States,” says Bill Keller, MU Health Care manager of radiology services. “The accreditation ensures we are meeting and maintaining quality and safety standards for patient care.”
Research conducted at MU Health Care with the 7T MRI focuses on areas and diseases including:
- Brain tumors
- Epilepsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Dementia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Vascular disease
- Headache
- Joint problems
“When you get a better look at what’s going on inside, you start to understand the mechanisms of a disease,” says MU Health Care neuroradiologist Dr. Mai-Lan Ho, vice chair of clinical radiology and director of neuroradiology. “It opens the door to interesting discussions and more treatment possibilities.”
In 2019, MU Health Care and the University of Missouri System entered a Value Partnership with Siemens Healthineers called the Alliance for Precision Health — to offer our researchers and clinicians access to the newest technology and the scientists who create it.
“This collaboration provides an opportunity for our research scientists to access some of the latest equipment from Siemens Healthineers and understand their development processes,” Keller said. “We have only uncovered the tip of the iceberg for what can be done with 7T MRI, and we’re doing everything we can to bring these advances to patients as quickly as possible.”
Click here for more information about imaging services at MU Health Care.
Contact: Eric Maze, mazee@health.missouri.edu, 573-884-3656