The Richard M. Lucas Center for MRS/I
Stanford University School of Medicine
Department of Radiology
 

 

 
The Richard M. Lucas Center for MRS/I at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, located in Stanford, California, USA.

The Richard M. Lucas Center for Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging is located at Stanford University approximately thirty miles south of San Francisco, California, USA.  We are part of the School of Medicine and Department of Radiology; and are dedicated entirely to research in MR imaging and spectroscopy, CT and X-Ray.  Magnet facilities currently include three whole body systems (1.5T, 3.0T and 7.0T) and a small bore 4.7T system.  Plans are underway to add a second 3.0T whole body system.  The Lucas Center provides office and laboratory facilities for sixteen full-time faculty (Ph.D. and M.D.) and their complement of postdoctoral fellows and students, and the administrative and scientific staff.

 



A multitude of functional brain imaging studies (fMRI) investigating diseases, congenital disorders and conditions such as chronic pain, are being conducted at the Lucas Center in adult and pediatric populations as well as studies focused on advancing neuroscience knowledge. Body and musculoskeletal imaging applications are in development at the 3.0T including knee, ankle/foot, wrist, elbow, shoulder, breast, pelvis, prostate, and cervical spine. Research studies utilizing hydrogen and multi-nuclear spectroscopy and imaging spectroscopy are also being conducted in several areas of the brain and body.

MR research studies in the detection and characterization of breast disease and prostate cancer continue at both 1.5T and 3.0T as well as stroke, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, muscle damage, cartilage of the knee, cancer of the head and neck, aging, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, depression, obesity, post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, dyslexia, memory and language disorders, vision, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, concussion, autism, chronic and intractable pain, alcoholism, Fragile X syndrome, obsessive compulsive disease, mental retardation, Williams syndrome, uterine leiomyomata, lumbar spine fusion, AIDS and HIV.
 

The recently installed 7.0T whole body MR system located at the Lucas Center for MRS/I.  Initial studies in neurological and musculoskeletal imaging are being planned.

Romi Samra, R.T.(R), left, and Sandra Rodriguez, R.T.(R)(MR), right, prepare a research subject for an abdominal scan at the 3.0T MR system at the Lucas Center.

Anne Marie Sawyer, B.S., R.T.(R)(MR), Romi Samra, R.T.(R) and Sandra Rodriguez, R.T.(R)(MR), are the MR technologists who support all of these studies. Their responsibilities, in addition to MR system operation, include teaching safety and screening procedures, MR system operation to researchers; troubleshooting MR system problems; designing new accessories, coils, and equipment; and assisting in the development of scan protocols for research studies.