Roncelli recently completed renovations for Wayne State University’s Eugene Appplebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences installation of their brand new, cutting-edge 3T MAGNETOM Cima.X scanner. The most modern Food and Drug Administration-approved 3T human MRI system, it provides deeper insights into the human body through an improved, ultra-strong body gradient system. Wayne State researchers are studying neurological conditions and disorders like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, as well as other important research areas such as the impact of stress, trauma,and substance use on brain function. The new scanner will be an asset for Wayne State researchers as they work to understand the progression of chronic diseases, evaluate the long-term effects of interventions, and study the natural history of various conditions.  The National Institute of Health awarded $2 million toward Wayne State’s purchase of the updated MRI system with a $1.378 million match from the Office of Vice President for Research, and the Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Roncelli had an extremely aggressive construction schedule as materials and equipment were being procured concurrent with construction activities commencing. Renovations and installation were further complicated due to the active campus life and the location of the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences being adjacent to a main throughfare. The scanner will have an immediate impact on more than 18 research programs across Wayne State, ultimately enabling new discoveries into brain structure and function to help better understand the workings of the brain and etiology of disease.