Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of the Director awarded $2.0 million to the University of California, Davis under the Research Infrastructure Programs (CFDA 93.351) to acquire and install a United Imaging UMR ULTRA 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner at the institution's Imaging Research Center. The award, dated June 15, 2026 with completion scheduled for June 14, 2027, funds the procurement of this advanced neuroimaging and body imaging system, which features a 70-centimeter wide bore, state-of-the-art gradient performance (100 mT/m, 346 T/m/s), a 192-channel radiofrequency system, and artificial intelligence-powered reconstruction capabilities. The scanner will serve as a shared research resource to address severe capacity constraints on the institution's existing 3T MRI scanner, with current wait times exceeding three weeks jeopardizing longitudinal and time-sensitive research studies.

The instrument will support diverse research applications across neuroscience, musculoskeletal imaging, kidney disease, metabolism, and pediatric studies for more than 30 NIH-funded projects. The advanced imaging capabilities enable functional, structural, diffusion, perfusion, multi-nuclear, and quantitative imaging protocols while facilitating high-throughput, reproducible imaging in both single-site and multi-site research settings. UC Davis will manage the system as a shared institutional resource with dedicated technical and administrative personnel, leveraging the university's long-standing infrastructure investments and interdisciplinary research capabilities.