Synopsis

Keywords: Transferable skills: Research coordination

Twenty-eight years ago, we started an MRI research center in Chile. It was a real challenge to do it, given the scarcity of resources and, more importantly, the little appreciation for the technology and even less for researching it. This is our experience, our choices, and the lessons we learned.

Summary

It has been 50 years since the birth of MRI, and it continues to be an exciting field. Its application, development, and research are more alive than ever. Unfortunately, the pattern of geographic and sometimes societal inequality that exists in many areas of human life is repeated in MRI. Nevertheless, we dream of making MRI available in clinical care centers in every corner of the world. But, there is a tremendous challenge in terms of monetary and human resources. And in addition, we face another challenge in the little value some communities give to research and development.

In this talk, I will share our experience establishing an MRI research center in Chile. I'll take a look back at the economic and research funding situation in the country 28 years ago; at the options we had when we started; at the minimal experience that existed in Latin America; and at the dreams that we set ourselves.

I will also reflect on how the MRI application and research situation has changed today, the new options that have emerged (particularly in low field and open source), and what I would do if I had to start over today.

The realities are very different in each region, but I still believe some ideas can be rescued from our experience and could be used by others.

Acknowledgements

No acknowledgement found.

References

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