MAIC
Maastricht Advanced Imaging Centre / Scannexus
The MAIC/Scannexus, established in 2012, is a European Centre of Excellence for advanced MRI research. It hosts 7T and 3T human MRI scanners and pools expertise from Maastricht University, The Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+) and their national and international networks. MAIC focuses on medical and neuroscientific applications, including clinical translation, and is internationally recognized for high-resolution brain imaging, use of neuromodulation techniques in combination with (f)MRI, and advanced research in clinical populations (e.g. neurology, psychiatry and neural degeneration). The center enables ultra-high-resolution imaging of the brain and body as well as a clearer identification of metabolic signals.
Infrastructure and User Services
The facility includes currently one 7T and one 3T human MRI scanners in combination with leading technologies for the simultaneous recording of electrophysiological signals as well as simultaneous interreference using neuromodulation techniques (TMS, tACS, tDCS). The centre also hosts technology for translational approaches to mobile settings using e.g. fNIRS, and technology for simultaneous fNRIS and fMRI recordings. Using these technologies it is possible to record brain activity non-invasively at unprecedented spatial resolution (focusing on sub-cortical processes and cortical layers/columns). The combination with neuromodulation and neuropfeedback allows for interference (exogenously or endogenously) to reach causal understanding as well as develop clinical translational therapies. Apart from advanced brain imaging, high field MRI allows for higher detail imaging of other body tissues and higher resolution in spectroscopic imaging. The centre also hosts the possibility to image nuclei other than hydrogen (i.e. X-nuclei) offering unprecedented capabilities to study cellular metabolism.
At all scanners pulse sequence and hardware skills are present to support use of the facility by external parties.
Examples/description of the type of research
Typical research applications focus on mesoscopic imaging (cortical layers and columns) of the human brain, including the investigation of visual, auditory and somatosensory cortices. Furthermore, the centre supports internationally leading research in perceptual processes as well as learning, memory, development (e.g. Dyslexia) and aging. In addition, the centre supports internationally leading teams focusing on translational applications of neurofeedback and neurostimulation. For the study of the human brain, the collaboration with the MUMC+ also allows to bridge understanding combining insights from invasive recordings and stimulation (sEEG, DBS).
Furthermore, ultra-high field MRI offers excellent opportunities for imaging of other nuclei than proton – an approach that holds great promise for cancer imaging and treatment monitoring.
The application/translational focus of the centre is amplified by the current effort oriented at upgrading the current 3T and 7T scanner to new platforms allowing beyond state-of-the-art diffusion MRI (at 3T – relevant for clinical applications) and a clinically approved 7T platform – to increase the potential for translational research.
How to access the infrastructure?
Access to the infrastructure is supported via training of users for the use of the machines and the presentation of the project to a project proposal meeting to allow for the identification of the necessary support to be provided.