Our History

Before 2000, Prof. Dr. Rik Achten (Ghent University, Faculty of Medicin) pioneered the clinical use of functional MRI (fMRI) for presurgical evaluations in patients with epilepsy using a 1-Tesla MRI scanner. As MRI technology advanced, interest in applying fMRI for brain mapping grew at Ghent University. This progress led to numerous fMRI studies conducted in collaboration with the Faculty of Psychology and several centers in Belgium and the Netherlands, using various 1.5-Tesla MRI systems.

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

With the inauguration of the scanner on 3 March 2005, the name GIfMI—Ghent Institute for Functional and Metabolic Imaging—was formally adopted, establishing the MR Research Community at Ghent University as a collaborative research unit. The four founding principal investigators formed the first management committee.

Installed in the Department of Radiology at Ghent University Hospital, the new scanner substantially boosted MR research at Ghent University. Open access to the MRI system during office hours attracted a steadily growing community of researchers.

In 2007, a new Siemens MAGNETOM Trio Tim was installed in a dedicated research building on the UZ Gent campus, while the previous scanner was reassigned for clinical use in the Department of Radiology. This expansion supported a rapidly growing user base and a marked increase in scientific output.

To meet the growing needs of the research community, the GIfMI operational team was strengthened with experts from diverse disciplines, bringing together expertise in engineering, MR physics, radiography, MR safety, and related fields.

Over time, the Siemens Trio Tim system was upgraded to a Siemens MAGNETOM Prisma Fit, retaining only the main magnet while replacing all other components, introducing advanced technology to the MR research community. A major update in 2018 further maintained its state-of-the-art status. The CORE GIfMI management team continues to maintain and enhance the system through regular hardware and software updates.

In 2024, GIfMI was officially recognized as a core facility under Ghent University’s guidelines for Core Facilities. Prof. Dr. Wim Fias currently leads the core facility, supported by Prof. Dr. Ir. Pim Pullens as Facility Manager. The recognition marked a significant milestone in professionalizing CORE GIfMI’s services and enhancing its visibility within both the academic and commercial MR research communities.