Wright Center of Innovation in Biomedical Imaging

On May 28th, 2003, Dr. Michael V. Knopp received a $9.1 million Third Frontier Grant from Ohio Governor Bob Taft and $8 million from BRTT (the Biomedical Research and Technology Transfer award) to create the Wright Center of Innovation in Biomedical Imaging. The project is also known as the "Biomedical Structural, Functional and Molecular Imaging Enterprise." This funding is among the largest ever awarded to a medical researcher at The Ohio State University.

In addition to The Ohio State University, project collaborators include Case Western Reserve University, Philips Medical Systems of Highland Heights, and the Ohio Supercomputer Center. 

Goals of the funding include:

• The creation of an ultra-high-field 7 Tesla MRI scanner, which will reduce the need for exploratory surgery and permit doctors to closely monitor the effects of medications. It will enable functional imaging research in cancer, neuroscience, and cardiovascular care at OSU.

• Development of a new and more powerful PET scanner to help physicians better understand disease processes and treatment.

• Exploration into mobile imaging facilities and remote access systems that would facilitate advanced diagnostic and imaging capabilities in the field during quickly changing and demanding biohazard events.

• Organization of a powerful, extensive imaging and bioinformatics infrastructure that will integrate the state's scientific community into a virtual think tank for research and development.

• Provide startup funding in the amount of $1 million for support of innovative and promising imaging projects.

Dr. Knopp is the Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation Chair for Imaging Research. He is recognized internationally as an expert in the research and clinical applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomograpy (PET), and computed tomography (CT).

His own research involves imaging of angiogenesis and therapy response monitoring, cardiovascular imaging, assessment of molecular and functional imagery and contrast agents.