In January of 2006 Dr. Alan Stolpen, MD, PhD, and MR research committee member, was awarded with the National Institutes of Health High End Instrumentation Grant to fund the purchase of a research dedicated Siemens Trio 3T scanner to be located in the College of Medicine’s Medical Education Research Facility in suite L169. On June 12, 2007 the 3T arrived and was positioned so that ramping could begin. Final ramping and testing concluded on July 20, 2007, and the 3T’s first research scan commenced at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, August 31.

The Magnetic Resonance Research Facility (MRRF) relocated to the Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building in 2016.  The MRRF includes suites that house the human 3T and 7T research scanners as well as additional space for the MRI Simulator, small animal 7T MRI scanner, electronics shop, washing station, personal lockers for researchers and visitors, ten research work stations and multiple general-use computers available with Windows, Linux and Macintosh operating systems. 

The main suite includes private dressing rooms that contain a sink with faucet, lockers, table and chairs.  Across the hall from the main suite is a subject waiting area for multiple subjects.  This area includes a flat screen TV and a selection of movies to watch while being scanned.  Located near the waiting room is a bus stop and parking ramp which offers subjects convenient access to parking and public transportation.