OCMR was founded in 2001 and is part of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine within the Radcliffe Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford. Our director is Professor Stefan Neubauer. The unit uses Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) to study the heart, liver, other abdominal organs and brain. We collaborate with researchers from across the University of Oxford, other academic institutions and industry.
We are a multidisciplinary unit bringing together experts from the specialisms of medicine, physics, biochemistry, engineering and computer science. This unique mix allows development of cutting-edge non-invasive imaging techniques helping to advance knowledge of disease mechanisms and diagnostic imaging involved in some of the major health challenges of our era.
The unit houses two Siemens MRI scanners, one GE MRI scanner and an MR Hyperpolarizer. We have space for clinical examinations and participant interviews. The unit is home to over 50 researchers and associated support staff.
The research themes at OCMR are broad, from technical method development and advanced image analysis techniques to clinical topics such as cardiomyopathy, ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, diabetes, obesity and cardiac metabolism and liver disease. In addition, OCMR works as a collaboration partner to other groups wishing to strengthen their clinical research using advanced MRI techniques. We work closely with the NHS, providing over 2500 cardiac MRI (CMR) scans per year to patients from the Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust and other participating NHS organisations. We are a BUPA accredited Cardiac MRI unit and are used by numerous other private healthcare providers.
OCMR works in partnership with many funding bodies and is particularly grateful for the support received from the British Heart Foundation, the National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust.