University of Fukui | University of Fukui Faculty of Medical Sciences | University of Fukui Hospital(Japanese) About Us Research Equipments Divisions, Studies University of Fukui University of Fukui Faculty of Medical Sciences University of Fukui Hospital(Japanese) HOME > About Us Biomedical Imaging Research Center 　Director, Hidehiko Okazawa, M.D. Fukui Prefecture has the highest number of nuclear power plants in Japan, giving a great concern about radiation to the local community. Fukui Medical University, now a part of University of Fukui, has been promoting the medical use of radiation as basic concept of the University since it was founded in 1980. The long awaited research center to realize this mission was established in 1994 as Biomedical Imaging Research Center. The center aims to promote basic and clinical research on medical imaging by means of various non-invasive methods involving electromagnetic waves, such as X-ray and gamma ray. X-ray and gamma ray can easily penetrate the human body and convey information of subtle changes inside the body. Taking advantage of these characteristics, we detect physiological and biochemical signals from various organs, and visualize the changes as two-dimensional image or three-dimensional tomographic image non-invasively. Various methods have been introduced for imaging the structure and function of organs. Among them, positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) play a major role in understanding human physiology and biochemistry. The center aims to promote basic and clinical research for diagnosis and prevention of diseases by visualizing molecular signals reflecting functional changes brought by illness, which contributes to health in the local community. The newly developed methods of medical imaging based on this concept will play an important role in the establishment of new scientific field. In order to achieve this goal, the center has various equipments, including two cyclotrons and automated synthesis system for production of radiolabeled compounds, two PET scanners and a 3T-MRI, and the researchers in the center are actively working in collaboration with other institutions.   March, 1994 Cyclotron building was completed. March, 1994 Cyclotron was installed. April, 1994 Radiopharmaceutical chemistry division (endowed division) was opened. May, 1994 Biomedical Imaging Research Center(BIRC) was opened. May, 1994 Positron emission tomography (PET) scanner was installed. October, 1994 Biomedical Imaging Research Center opening ceremony March, 1996 Animal PET scanner was installed. August, 1996 BIRC hosted PET summer seminar. August, 1996 BIRC hosted "International Workshop on Biomedical Imaging : MR and PET/SPECT" (Fukui96). April, 1999 Molecular Imaging Division was opened. June, 1999 High magnetic field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment was installed. November, 2000 BIRC hosted "The Second International Workshop on Biomedical Imaging" (Fukui2000). November, 2000 Biomedical Imaging Research Center Building was completed. February, 2001 Opening Ceremony for Biomedical Imaging Research Center Building October, 2003 Fukui Medical University and Fukui University were integrated into University of Fukui. December, 2003 The second cyclotron was installed. April, 2004 Reorganization of Biomedical Imaging Research Center into six divisions; Medical Imaging, molecular Imaging, Functional Neuroimaging (in cooperative with Faculty of Medical Sciences), Oncology (in cooperative with Faculty of Medical Sciences), Image Engineering (in cooperative with Faculty of Engneering), and Radiopharmaceutkcal Chemistry (Endowed). December, 2004 BIRC hosted "The Third International Workshop on Biomedical Imaging" (Fukui 2004). April, 2005 PET Engineering Division (Endowed) was opened March, 2008 Shutdown of the 1st cyclotron (JFE) January, 2010 The 4th International Workshop on "Biomedical Imaging: Functional Brain Imaging for Cognition and Mind Development" (Fukui 2010) at Hotel Fujita Fukui July, 2010 Reorganization of BIRC took place (3 field with 7 divisions) April, 2011 Collaboration with Panasonic Inc. was started and a new division of "Life Informatics" was opened. January, 2014 The 5th International Workshop on "Molecular Functional Imaging for Brain and Gynecologic Oncology" (Fukui 2014) at Hotel Fujita Fukui at Yours Hotel Fukui September, 2015 PET/MRI scanner (Signa, GE Healthcare Japan) was installed July, 2019 BIRC hosted Pharmacokinetics Course 2019 and the 6th International Workshop Fukui 2019 combined with the Brain PET satellite meeting on "Progress in Tau Imaging" at Hamamatsu July, 2019 BIRC hosted Brain PET 2019 meeting (The 14th Inetrnational Conference on Quantification of Brain Function with PET) in Yokohama                   University of Fukui Biomedical Imaging Research Center 23-3 Matsuokashimoaizuki, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui Prefecture, 910-1193, Japan Tel: +81-776-61-8491 Email:bircfukui@gmail.com ©2006 Biomedical Imaging Research Center All rights reserved.