Taming Telsa
Continued...

In today’s high-tech economy, the correlation between a state’s economic well-being and the strength of its research and development capabilities is well documented. A recent report found that of the top 30 high-technology metropolitan areas, 29 were home to or within close proximity of a major research university. “It is not surprising that most states consider their universities to be critical components of their intellectual infrastructure," says Lewis. “The importance of research and development capacity to the economic prosperity of a state and nation is predicted to increase in the coming years, and the research center is designed to address this reality."

Existing and proposed partnerships with other institutions, such as the University of Alabama at
Birmingham, U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory at Fort Rucker and the Andrews-Paulous Research Institute, will provide the clinical network to support work on biomedical applications of the imaging technologies being developed at Auburn.

For example, Denney cites potential research in partnership with Fort Rucker on soldiers with neck and spinal injuries, as well as those with traumatic head injuries and post traumatic stress syndrome.

Commercialization of these newly developed technologies will support expansion of the enter’s capability and increase its impact in the research and development arena.

“This collaboration will provide a research platform of the highest level," adds Zhang. “We believe this alliance will result in improvements in health, education and economic growth for the state of Alabama and the nation."

Around the globe, MRI-related research is being conducted on cognitive neuroscience, etabolic imaging and pharmaceuticals, as well as diabetes and cardiac research. A new seminar series, the Ginn MRI Distinguished Lecture Series, will provide Auburn faculty and graduate tudents the opportunity to interface with leading MRI researchers from around the world.

“The MRI Research Center and the supporting alliances are prime examples of how state funds can be invested and institutions collaborate with the private sector to develop a world-class research center to advance science and technology," says Auburn University President Jay Gogue. “We believe that this collaboration establishes a precedent on which cooperation between Auburn and other institutions can build to improve the quality of life in the global community and promote economic development for Alabama."

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