MRI Research Facilities

Which scanner to choose? MR research is performed across 5 different facilities. If you do not have an ongoing collaboration with one of the groups, please see the info provided below to discover what each can do and how to approach them. Get in touch with whoever seems best suited to your needs – if it turns out that another site is more appropriate, you will be redirected to them.

NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre (QSMSC)

Quantitative MRI of the brain, spinal cord and the peripheral nerves in the healthy population and in a wide spectrum of neurological conditions, with strong expertise in multiple sclerosis, using a 3T Philips MRI system with research options enabled and with multinuclear capabilities.

Research focus: Quantitative MRI of the brain, spinal cord and the peripheral nerves in the healthy population and in a wide spectrum of neurological conditions, with strong expertise in multiple sclerosis.

Scanners: 3T Philips Ingenia CX

Location: Queen Square House, Queen Square

Contact (standard service scanning): Kathryn Whelan

Contact (research collaborations): Dr Marios Yiannakas or Prof Claudia Wheeler-Kingshott

Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging

Research focus: using state-of-the-art MRI techniques to investigate how the human brain generates behaviour, thoughts and feelings. Applying this knowledge to help patients with neurological and psychiatric diseases.

Scanners: 2x3T Siemens Prisma; 7T Siemens Terra; MEG ; OPM

Location: 12 Queen Square

Contact (research collaborations): https://engagement.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/scanning-with-us/scanning-as-a-researcher/

National Society of Epilepsy Centre (NSEC)

Research focus: all aspects of MRI applied to epilepsy, including concurrent EEG

Scanners: 3T GE Signa

Location: Chalfont St Peter

Contact (standard service scanning): Prof John S Duncan, Prof Matthias J Koepp or Dr Meneka K Sidhu

Contact (research collaborations): Prof John S Duncan, Prof Matthias J Koepp or Dr Meneka K Sidhu

Lysholm Department of Neuroradiology-Neuroradiological Academic Unit

Research focus: hospital-based MRI for clinical trials across a broad spectrum of neurological conditions. Investigator led clinical research studies using advanced MRI methods

Scanners: 3T Siemens Prisma and Vida; 1.5T Siemens Sola

Location: NHNN, Queen Square

Contact (standard service scanning): Helen Mackenzie or Lisa Strycharczuk

Contact (research collaborations): Prof Tarek Yousry or Prof John Thornton

Grays Inn Road MR facility

Research focus: a joint UCLH/UCL neuroradiological facility (opening in Spring 2025) for patient care and next-generation clinical research using cutting-edge MRI methods and technology

Scanners: 3T Siemens Cima.X

Location: 256 Grays Inn Road

Contact (standard service scanning): Prof Tarek Yousry, Prof Claudia Wheeler-Kingshott or Prof John Thornton

Contact (research collaborations): Prof Tarek Yousry, Prof Claudia Wheeler-Kingshott  or Prof John Thornton