Posted on April 25, 2007 at 9:15 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) will dedicate a new research-specific fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scanner at 2 p.m., Monday, April 30, in the new UAB Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory. This head-only, 3T (tesla) MRI facility, located in the Civitan International Research Center at 1719 6th Ave. South, will be used for neuroscience research.

An fMRI scanner provides researchers with detailed images of brain activity stimulated by visual, auditory or tactile cues. UAB scientists will use the highly specialized scanner to study conditions such as autism, neuro-developmental diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia.

“This MRI is a valuable tool and an important addition to UAB’s research capability in neuroscience,” said Harald W. Sontheimer, Ph.D., professor of neurobiology and Director of the Civitan Center. “There are only about 12 head-only 3T scanners in the country and this machine paves the way for truly exciting opportunities to unravel the riddles surrounding developmental disorders, memory loss, mental illness and other neurologic conditions.”

Read Montague, Ph.D., professor of neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine, will present a special lecture at the dedication. Montague received his Ph.D. in biophysics from UAB in 1988. Tours of the facility will be available.

The $3 million project is funded by the Civitan International Foundation’s Chesapeake Civitan District, the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, the Hillcrest Foundation, the Kaul Foundation and the state of Alabama. The scanner is made by Siemens Medical.