The University of Houston and the Houston-based Methodist Hospital have partnered with Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University in New York City to found the Institute for Biomedical Imaging Science. Goals of the institute include the creation of interdisciplinary programs in biomedical imaging sciences and joint training programs for scientists involved in basic and applied research. Among the technologies that will be covered at the facility are MRI, CAT scanning, molecular imaging and nanotechnology-based techniques. Research efforts will focus on improving and extending these technologies — as well as on developing new ones — through funding from research grants.