MEDIA CONTACT: Jonathan Sherwood 585.273.4726

May 18, 2004

Giant, 29,000-pound magnet arrives at University's new super-MRI site

TIME, DATE, AND PLACE: Approximately 10:30 a.m., today, Elmwood Avenue, across the street from the Kornberg Medical Research Building.

One of 30 of the most powerful Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems in the world is being built between the River Campus and Medical Center at the University of Rochester. The heart of the system, a massive, 29,000-pound magnet, will arrive Tuesday morning and will be lifted from a flatbed truck and placed in its new home at approximately 10:30 this morning.

The new MRI system will be the centerpiece of the new Rochester Center for Brain Imaging, and will be used primarily for research into the function of the brain. The quality of an MRI image is closely related to the magnetic field strength, and the new machine will use a 3.0 Tesla magnet; twice the strength of those in standard machines. It will also serve an important training function for undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows as they learn how to use MRI as a research tool.

About the University of Rochester

The University of Rochester (www.rochester.edu) is one of the nation's leading private universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering is complemented by the Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, and the Memorial Art Gallery.

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