The first ever MRI scanner in this country (and South East Asia) was acquired by INMAS in 1986 and from then onwards important contributions in neuroinfections, brain tumours and other neurological disorders have been made in the field of MR imaging. The broad based research experience using MRI and MRS in this institute made the medical community confident about this sophisticated technology, which resulted in opening up of several new advanced Medical Imaging Centres in the country. The centre is presently equipped with a 1.5 T human MR system, which would be shortly upgraded to 3T, and a 400 MHz NMR spectrometer. A 7T Animal MR system is likely to be installed by 2008.  In vivo applications of ‘state of the art’ MRS methodologies to the living brain, heart and muscle tissues have been carried out besides routine clinical MR Imaging and patient care. The Centre has established an excellent functional MRI facility wherein clinical and applied cognitive research is being pursued.  Functional MRI studies for cortical mapping have been carried out for evaluation of functional impairment in clinical situations such as thyroid disorders, brain tumours, phantom limbs and dementia. Cognitive studies related to short-term memory, multilingual complexity, visuospatial skills, emotions and meditation have being conducted. NMR Research Centre has also successfully developed MRI coils for human applications.

With the augmentation of 7T animal MRI and 3T human MRI system, INMAS will become a unique institute not only in the country but around the globe to practice comprehensive research in MR in particular and biomedical research in general. Several DRDO life sciences laboratories and academic institutes in the country will collaborate in the ongoing and future research activities.