Australia’s National Imaging Facility (NIF) has switched on a scanner that can take a closer look at the entire body that virtually any other in the world.

Researchers looking for treatments for dementia, Parkinson’s disease, strokes and other neurodegenerative illness will be assisted by the launch of a 7 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (7T MRI) scanner at the University of Melbourne, authorities say.

The 7T MRI scanner is one of only two to have been installed in the southern hemisphere, with the other at the University of Queensland.

The 7T whole body MRI will provide researchers access to world leading imaging technology. In particular, the 7T systems will help local researchers make breakthroughs in diseases such as dementia and Parkinson’s, stroke, epilepsy, motor neurone disease, brain tumours, and multiple sclerosis.

The purchase and installation of the machine at the Melbourne Brain Centre was made possible through a $5.7 million investment by the Australian Government. It was also supported by contributions from the University of Melbourne and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health.

As well as the new 7T MRI scanner, $200 million has been provided over the next five years to boost Australia’s dementia research capacity.

Melbourne Uni experts describe the machine in more detail, here.