The new GE Excite short-bore 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner, at the National Society for Epilepsy (NSE) at Chalfont, is the only MRI scanner in the UK dedicated to identifying the causes of epilepsy. The scanner is a critical component of the NSE's research programme.

The scanner was purchased in part by a successful bid to the National Lottery Community Fund by NSE and the Epilepsy Research Foundation (now Epilepsy Research UK). The research programme is driven by the NSE and the Department of Epilepsy of the Institute of Neurology, University College London. The collaboration with Epilepsy Research UK ensures the widest dissemination of the research results and their potential application to other patient groups.

The NSE and Epilepsy Research UK jointly oversee the research projects carried out on the scanner, and as part of this the scanner is avaible for research projects proposed by other groups.

Proposals for research projects into the causes and treatment of epilepsy involving the use of the new 3T MRI scanner are invited from research groups in the UK.

Projects will be assessed by the scientific advisory committee of the NSE and Epilepsy Research UK.

The cost of running the 3T MRI scanner is £360 per hour of scanning time. This includes cost of radiographers, use of computer network, cryogens etc.

The NSE can be flexible about scanner availability: their radiographers work variable hours which can be increased or decreased according to need, so this is not a constraint.

A project including work on the scanner would be eligible to apply to Epilepsy Research UK for funding via the competitive annual grant round. No funding is available from the NSE. Access to the scanner is conditional on adequate funding being available.

For more information about the 3T scanner, please contact: Prof John Duncan, Medical Director, The National Society for Epilepsy, Chesham Lane, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks SL9 0RJ. Tel: 01494 601300.
To apply, please contact Epilepsy Research UK.
Download the text of the call for proposals (33KB)

Epilepsy Research UK, PO Box 3004, London W4 4XT Tel: (+44) (0) 20 8995 4781 • Fax: (+44) (0) 870 838 1069 Registered Charity No. 1100394