Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) is excited to welcome Prof Andrew Webb, Director, C.J.Gorter MRI Center at Leiden University Medical Center, to Sussex for an in-person talk about his ground-breaking research in radical new MRI design.

Prof Webb's research concentrates on the translation of new engineering concepts into the clinic.

In his talk, Prof Webb will describe the low field MRI systems built in his lab, and the flexible approach they apply in their design: that of designing simple, low cost systems that answer specific needs, rather than a "one-size-fits-all" system.

This new design offers radical new opportunities in sustainable MRI design to increase accessibility in developing countries and general healthcare.

Hosted by Professor Itamar Ronen, CISC Academic Director and Chair in Medical Physics at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, registration will begin promptly at 3pm, ahead of Prof Webb's talk at 3.30pm.

Following the talk, guests are welcome to stay for light refreshments from 5pm-6.30pm.

Find out more:

Commercial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems are extremely expensive to purchase and to maintain, require large electromagnetically shielded spaces to house, and require highly trained technicians to operate. As a result, their distribution is confined to centrally-located medical centres in mostly developed countries.

Over 70% of the world’s population has absolutely no access to MRI, and clinical conditions which could benefit from very simple scans cannot be properly diagnosed.

Even in places where MRI is accessible, the high cost and fixed nature of the scanners prohibit any role for MRI in screening and prevention. The high magnetic field used in commercial MRI systems impose severe contraindications that limit its use on people with metallic implants and prevent it from being used in the emergency room.

Recent advances in hardware and in image processing allowed reintroducing low field MRI as a cheaper, more accessible alternative for currently available systems.

Portable, accessible and sustainable low-field MRI systems would open up new opportunities in both developed and developing countries.

The low field MRI systems built in Prof Webb's lab apply a flexible approach in their design: that of designing simple, low cost systems that answer specific needs, rather than a "one-size-fits-all" system.

The resulting systems are portable, lightweight scanners that cost a fraction of the price of a commercial MRI system, and can be transported on an ambulance or be housed in any settings, from a field hospital in a remote area to the GP clinic.