University Medical Center Utrecht

University Medical Center Utrecht
Image Sciences Institute
Heidelberglaan 100
3584 CX Utrecht
The Netherlands
Website

Project leader

Dr. Rick M. Dijkhuizen   Phone +31 (0)30 253 5569 Fax +31 (0)30 253 5561 E-Mail

Prof. Sarah Durston   Phone +31 (0)88 755 9019 Fax +31 (0)88 755 5443 E-Mail

Project staff

Dr. Rene Mandl   Phone +31 (0)88 755 9705 Fax +31 (0)88 755 5443 E-Mail

Vincent Mensen   Phone n.a. Fax +31 (0)88 755 5443 E-Mail

Erwin Blezer   Phone +31 (0)30 2535521 Fax +31 (0)30 2535561 E-Mail

Bob Oranje   Phone n.a. Fax +31 (0)88 755 6003 E-Mail

Sarai van Dijk Phone +31 (0)88 755 9192 Fax - E-Mail

Institute presentation

The UMCU is one of the leading academic medical centres in the Netherlands. It is unique in bringing together fundamental and clinical research, allowing for a true bench-to-bedside-and-back approach. Dr. Rick Dijkhuizen’s Biomedical MR Imaging & Spectroscopy group is part of the Image Sciences Institute of the UMCU. This group has a history of more than 20 years of in vivo MRI and MRS in biomedical research and is equipped with two state-of-the-art animal MR systems at 4.7 T (40-cm horizontal bore) and 9.4 T (20-cm horizontal bore). There is a strong link with clinical MRI and image analysis groups within the Image Sciences Institute, which enables optimal integration of tools and expertise. Importantly, we recently developed novel MRI-based strategies to assess changes in structural and functional connectivity in developing and disordered rat brain networks, which will be applied in TACTICS. The Biomedical MR Imaging & Spectroscopy group will conduct structural, functional and pharmacological MRI studies, to characterize developmental changes in the frontostriatal circuit from the juvenile to the adolescent phase in rat models of compulsive behaviour.