3,6 Millionen Euros Funding for GRF Research Group around Prof. Dr. Nagel!

In the framework of our research focus Medical Engineering, we are constantly trying to improve the quality of medical care. For this purpose, a new research group will be established at FAU and the university hospital Erlangen in coordination with the German Research Foundation: FOR 5534 “Fast mapping of quantitative and metabolic MRI-fingerprints in ultra-high magnetic field” will receive 3,6 million Euros funding from the GRF over the next 4 years. The project is lead by Prof. Dr. Armin Nagel, professor for Metabolic and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and deals with further developing 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore a patient‘s physiology beyond pure anatomy.

Due to its increased spectral resolution and higher signal, the results of the 7T MRI often have a more pronounced contrast than previous imaging procedures, which means that tissue changes can become visible in earlier stages. In the past ten years, the search for clinical uses of the 7T MRI mostly focused on anatomical imaging. The new GRF research group around the MR physics project groups of Prof. Dr. Nagel, Prof. Frederik Laun and Prof. Moritz Zaiss (Institute of Radiology and Neuroradiology) now wants to establish a “magnetic resonance biosignature imaging”, which would complement regular imaging and provide additional data and diagnostic insights. The researchers are working on fast MRI technologies that can recognize different tissues and their chemical components and microstructures. This MR biosignature imaging will be used in areas such as neurodegeneration, chronic illnesses (like chronic kidney diseases) and oncology (diagnosing breast cancer).

Medical Engineering students at FAU can attend Prof. Dr. Armin Nagel‘s lectures “Magnetic Resonance Imaging 1” and “Magnetic Resonance Imaging 2”. His project group “Metabolic and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging” often has exciting BA, MA and PhD thesis topics to offer. If you are interested, please write an email to armin.nagel@uk-erlangen.de.