Staff and specialities
Professor: Shigehiro MORIKAWA
Associate Professor: Akihiko SHIINO
Outline of the department
The Center was internally founded in May, 2002 as a result of long standing commitment by biomedical NMR group. Three types of MR instruments are equipped in our university, an interventional (intraoperative) MRI, two of diagnostic MRI and an NMR spectrometer for animal research. An additional 7T research machine is to be delivered in early 2004. Among these, the intraoperative MRI is a unique instrument which is dedicated to monitor the entire surgical procedure in real time and is the only system operated for the clinical use in our country. As is presented in the Center's title, NMR instruments are the common tools by the researchers in the center. Integration of collaborative multi-discipline applications of common methodology, in vivo NMR techniques, will help to solve various problems of multi-genre in medical practice. Our research interest has very broad spectrum form basic science to clinical application. Ongoing researches are the followings:
1) MR spectroscopic studies of metabolism in animal and human. In relation to physiology and pathology.
2) In vivo MR tracking of implanted cells in the living system with special emphasis on ES cells currently attracted keen interest.
3) Development of the usage of MRI methodology in the course of surgical process to achieve accurate, fast, and safe operation.
4) Functional MRI to analyze brain activity in relation to neurology, otology and ophthalmology.
