3T MRI Clinical-Research Facility

Sydney Imaging operates the Cima.X 3T MRI as a researcher-led facility, overseen by internationally recognised imaging scientists with expertise in functional, quantitative, and translational MRI. Researchers are supported by an expert team who work closely with study teams to design, optimise, and deliver high-quality MRI studies, ensuring advanced acquisition methods are applied rigorously and appropriately.

The facility has extensive experience in the delivery of clinical trials, including early-phase and investigator-initiated studies. Sydney Imaging works with academic and industry partners to develop robust and reproducible imaging protocols aligned with trial objectives, feasibility, and translational outcomes, within established governance and regulatory frameworks.

In addition, as a node of the Australian National Imaging Facility (NIF), Sydney Imaging is positioned to facilitate multi-site clinical and translational research studies across the national MRI network, with alignment to NIF standards and harmonised QA and QC frameworks supporting consistency, reproducibility, and coordinated imaging workflows across NIF sites in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.

The Siemens Cima.X 3T MRI system combines a 3Tesla field strength with ultra-high performance gradients of up to 200 mT/m and a 60 cm bore, enabling high-resolution multi-region imaging for clinical and translational research applications. This latest-generation MRI scanner incorporates FDA- and TGA-approved Siemens Connectome-grade hardware components, together with advanced RF coil technology, BioMatrix features, and deep learning-based image reconstruction.

Through the Sydney Imaging–Siemens Healthineers research partnership, the facility has access to on-site scientific and technical expertise to support early adoption and evaluation of novel and advanced imaging techniques. This includes access to open and research-focused platforms supporting the application and assessment of emerging acquisition and reconstruction methods.

As part of Sydney Imaging’s integrated capability, the MRI facility is co-located with the Hybrid Theatre, a dedicated research surgical environment. This enables integration between imaging and interventional research activities for translational research and medical device development, subject to appropriate project design, governance, and approval. The integrated imaging suite enables exploration of imaging-informed research that bridges industry, pre-clinical, and clinically oriented research.

Sydney Imaging works with clinical researchers, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device partners to deliver clinical and translational research trials. This includes standardised and longitudinal imaging workflows, with expert input into protocol design, feasibility, and data quality, delivered within appropriate ethical, governance, and regulatory frameworks.

The facility offers a broad range of imaging applications, including:

• High-resolution structural imaging for detailed anatomical assessment
• Functional MRI (BOLD, resting-state, task-based) for cognitive and behavioural research
• Microstructural and connectivity imaging using advanced diffusion and model-based approaches
• Cardiac and vascular MRI, including accelerated and flow-sensitive techniques
• Quantitative MRI (e.g. T1, T2, T2*, susceptibility mapping) for biomarker-focused research
• Metabolic and spectroscopic imaging (MRS/I) for in vivo biochemical characterisation