3.0T MRI Will Further Imaging Center Research

ALBANY, N.Y., Sept. 4 -- A General Electric 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system dedicated to neurodegenerative disease research and other technology will be the focus of the Neurosciences Advanced Imaging Research Center opened yesterday by GE Global Research and Albany Medical Center (AMC).

The goal of the research at the new center, located at AMC, is to discover technologies and methodologies to diagnose Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Scientists and researchers at the center will attempt to identify the biological changes that occur within brain cells of Alzheimer's patients. This technology, a form of molecular imaging, involves developing smart molecules that seek out and highlight specific biological processes so they are visible through state-of-the-art medical imaging technology, such as 3.0T MRI. By seeing and analyzing these biological processes, scientists hope to connect certain biological changes in the brain with the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

"We believe molecular imaging will be the next great revolution in medical diagnostics," said Scott Donnelly, GE senior vice president and director of Global Research. "The ability to provide physicians with information at the cellular level will change the game in identifying disease, monitoring disease progression and evaluating effectiveness of treatments. Our goal is to make people's lives better. The clinicians from AMC and the scientists from GE are the right combination to bring the promise of this technology to patients and help win the war against Alzheimer's disease."

For more information, visit: www.research.ge.com