National 7T facility

The application for the national 7T facility was submitted to the Swedish research council (VR) in April 2010. Applicants represented Lund University (LU), Umeå University, Uppsala University, the Karolinska Institute, Linköping University and Gothenburg University. The application was granted in late 2011 by VR/RFI. In April 2011, after signing the funding contract between VR and LU in March 2011, a nationally composed purchase group was formed.

In February 2012, the purchase contract was signed between Lund University (equipment), Region Skåne (building) and the vendor (Philips). The vendor provides equipment as well as building for the scanner. The national 7T facility is owned by LU via Lund University Bioimaging Center (LBIC), it is placed centrally at Skåne University Hospital, Lund (SUS, Lund). It operates within the Neuroradiology section, Department of Medical Imaging and Physiology (Verksamhetsområde Bild och Funktion, VO BoF) at SUS.

The system consists of a basic system package at delivery and an upgrade plan, in turn consisting of predefined upgrades and funds for future, not already defined upgrades. The contract also includes a 7-year combined warranty and full service undertaking from the vendor. An additional office and meeting room building is placed on the floor above the 7T facility. A small staff group supports the researchers with projects at the facility.

In close proximity to the 7T facility another two scanners (Siemens 3T and 1.5T) are located and an additional 3 MR scanners (one 3T and two 1.5T) are located in house.

The facility is open for research since October 1, 2015