Our History

Before 2000, Prof. Dr. Rik Achten from the Faculty of Medicine pioneered running fMRI studies on a clinical 1T MRI scanner, focusing primarily on presurgical evaluation in epilepsy patients. Interest in using fMRI for brain mapping at Ghent University grew alongside the capabilities of available scanners. This lead to multiple fMRI studies in collaboration with the Faculty of Psychology and multiple centers in Belgium and The Netherlands on several clinical 1.5T MRI scanners.

As demand for scanner time quickly exceeded availability, the need for a dedicated research scanner became apparent. In 2004, Prof. Dr. Rik Achten, Prof. Dr. Wim Fias, Prof. Dr. Guy Vingerhoets and Prof. Dr. Paul Boon secured funding from the Flemish Government’s “Universitaire impulsfinanciering Zware Apparatuur” program to purchase a dedicated Siemens Trio 3T MRI scanner.

With the inauguration of the scanner in 2005, the official name GIfMI—Ghent Institute for Functional and Metabolic Imaging—was established, formalizing the MR research community at Ghent University as a collaborative research unit. The four original principal investigators formed the management committee.

Installed in the Department of Radiology at the Ghent University Hospital, this new scanner significantly boosted MR research at Ghent University. It attracted a growing community of researchers by providing open access to an MRI scanner during office hours.

In 2007, A new Siemens Trio Tim scanner was installed in a dedicated building on the UZ Gent campus, with the previous scanner repurposed for clinical use in the Department of Radiology. The number of researchers using the facility grew rapidly, leading to a significant increase in scientific output.

The operational team of GIfMI was expanded to include experts from diverse fields to support the growing needs of researchers. Expertise covered engineering, MR physics, radiography, MR safety, etc.

Over time the Siemens Trio Tim system was upgraded to a Siemens Prisma Fit, replacing all components keeping only the main magnet. This brought cutting-edge technologies to the MR research community. A major upgrade in 2018 further ensured the scanner remained state-of-the-art. The CORE GIfMI management team continues to update the scanner hardware and software.

In 2024, GIfMI achieved recognition as a core facility under Ghent University’s guidelines for Core Facilities. Prof. Dr. Wim Fias currently serves as the head of the core, with Prof. Dr. Ir. Pim Pullens as the core facility manager. This milestone professionalized CORE GIfMI’s services and enhanced its visibility in both academic and commercial MR research communities.