UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA BIOIMAGING RESEARCH CENTER (BIRC)

The Bioimaging Research Center (BIRC) is the newest addition to the rapidly expanding biomedical and health sciences research agenda at the University of Georgia. The BIRC is a multi-imaging research suite designed to provide a full range of biological tissue imaging technologies to multiple biomedical investigators in programs across the UGA campus, their students, and other researchers. The state-of-the-art facility serves as a resource across disciplines and fosters collaborative, extramurally-funded research among human, animal and cellular scientists at UGA and scientists in other federal, state and private agencies or businesses.

The Coverdell Center houses:

• A General Electric 16-channel fixed-site Signa HDx 3.0 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) magnet with MRI, fMRI, MRS, MRA, DWI and DTI capabilities.
• A CTF Omega Whole-cortex magnetoencephalography system with 143 channel MEG and 32 channel EEG, all enclosed in a state-of-the-art magnetically shielded room.
• An EGI Geodesic System 200 Electroencephalography system with 256-channel head capabilities is maintained in the BIRC.
• 7T Varian Magnex 7-Tesla 210mm horizontal bore MRI/MRS system with 44 gauss/cm gradient field strength, multiple volume coils for imaging mice and rats, advanced MRI and MRS techniques available for non-invasive morphological, physiological, and biochemical and spectroscopic measurement.

The BIRC supports experienced imaging investigators through traditional extramural funding sources and encourages new investigators or investigators wishing to expand their research technologies via limited-access pilot study subsidies. See our section on Research for application materials for BIRC system use.