MRI Scanner Positions CBI as Regional Hub for Advanced Imaging Technologies

By Dirk Hoffman

Installed a little more than two years ago, the 5.5-ton MRI imaging system resides at the Center for Biomedical Imaging (CBI), located within UB’s Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC).

The 3T MRI system, known for its high magnetic field strength and exceptional image clarity, has enabled researchers and clinicians to explore new frontiers in neuroscience, cardiovascular imaging, musculoskeletal research, and beyond.

Its precision and versatility have enhanced the quality of imaging data, accelerating discoveries that bridge the gap between laboratory research and patient care.

The scanner uses AI-enhanced reconstruction algorithms (Philips’ SmartSpeed technology) to significantly reduce scan times. Traditionally, MRI works by collecting massive amounts of raw data points (filling “k-space”) to build a clear image, a process that is inherently slow.

“This system works smarter rather than harder: it collects fewer raw data samples and then uses trained AI models to accurately predict and fill in the missing information,” says Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD, director of the CBI and professor of neurology and biomedical informatics at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB.

“This allows the scanner to reconstruct a full-resolution, high-quality image from less raw data, drastically reducing the time the patient needs to spend inside the machine without sacrificing diagnostic confidence.”

During the past two years, the CBI has supported a wide range of interdisciplinary projects, fostering collaboration among investigators from medicine, neurology, psychology and biomedical sciences. The 3T scanner has not only strengthened UB’s research infrastructure but also positioned the center as a regional hub for advanced imaging technologies.

“It is important to note that almost all studies conducted at the CBI are inherently interdisciplinary,” Zivadinov says. “This is a unique feature of medical imaging research — it requires combining the core clinical discipline, for example, neurology, or preclinical research with mechanical phantom design, imaging sciences, signal processing, image analysis and imaging statistics.”

Key examples of this collaboration include:

• Nandor Pinter, MD, research scientist and research assistant professor of neurosurgery: a 4D Flow Phantom Study that utilizes 4D MRI to study flow patterns within 3D-printed phantoms
• Ferdinand Schweser, PhD, associate professor of neurology, and technical director of the CBI: research combining physics modeling with machine learning and imaging sciences to better understand the underlying mechanisms of neurological conditions
• Michael G. Dwyer III, PhD, associate professor of neurology and biomedical informatics: utilizing AI to enable high-quality, research-grade brain measurements derived from lower-quality clinical scans
• Filip Stefanovic, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical engineering: developing the first corticospinal computational models to distinguish between brain and spinal cord contributions to motor control, with the goal of optimizing neurostimulation therapies (like tDCS) for stroke rehabilitation

The CBI continues to expand access and training opportunities for investigators, ensuring that the 3T Philips MRI remains a vital tool for scientific discovery and innovation in the years ahead.

Last fall, the center officially became a live service center on UB’s Blue Services platform. By joining Blue Services, CBI now offers a streamlined process for service requests, scheduling, and billing, allowing investigators across UB and its partner institutions to easily request imaging time, obtain cost estimates, and manage projects through the centralized platform.

This transition aligns with UB’s broader initiative to integrate core research facilities within Blue Services, improving the user experience and promoting collaboration across the university’s research community. Researchers can now find the CBI listed among UB’s core facilities through Blue Services and begin submitting service requests directly through the platform.

Zivadinov says the Blue Services platform helps to unify and centralize the billing process across the university.

“The main benefit of this implementation is consistency; users who frequently utilize multiple core facilities at UB will face a familiar, standardized billing workflow regardless of which facility they are accessing,” he adds. “This administrative unification helps streamline the financial aspect of managing research grants and facility usage.”