The Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Laboratory was founded by Dr. Martin Lipton, Chairman of Radiology. Construction and was funded by the Department of Radiology and the Biological Sciences Division. The laboratory was equipped with a 4.7 Tesla MR scanner funded by NIH, the BSD, and a gift from General Electric Medical systems division. The 4.7 T magnet has a 30 cm bore and is used for studies of small animals and materials. Research time is also available on clinical MR scanners for studies of patients. The laboratory opened in 1995.

The facility is used by research groups in the BSD and PSD for such diverse projects as:

• Studies of tumor oxygenation
• Studies of tumor blood flow
• Development of high spectral and spatial resolution MR for improved anatomic and functional imaging
• Differentiation of metastatic and non-metastatic rodent tumors
• Analysis of the dynamics of granular materials
• Effects of electrical injury
• Structure of arterial plaque
• Evaluation of response in cancer patients undergoing experimental therapies
• New approaches to brain anatomic and functional imaging

The overall goal of work in the facility is to support the work of University of Chicago scientists by allowing non-invasive, high resolution imaging of animal models of disease and materials, and clinical research studies involving new applications of MRI. Recently the MRIS laboratory became a Core Research Facility of the University of Chicago Cancer Research Center. This means that pilot funding is available for projects proposed by Cancer Center members and approved the MRIS advisory committee.