The world’s first Bruker ClinScan MR/PET scanner was commissioned at CAI in late 2012 as part of the NCRIS funded National Imaging Facility UQ node. This system allows simultaneous acquisition of MRI and PET images of an animal or sample. The technology combines the exquisite structural and functional characterisation of tissue provided by MRI with the extreme sensitivity of PET imaging of metabolism and tracking of uniquely labelled cell types or cell receptors. The Clinscan MRI system is comprised of a 7 Tesla, 30 cm bore superconducting magnet, with operating software identical to the Siemens clinical MRI platform.

This enables the most direct translation of research outcomes from animals to humans, benefiting a wide range of biomedical and scientific research. The PET insert has been developed to provide optimal performance in the high magnetic field of the MRI system.