The Dutch National 14Tesla Initiative in Medical Science will establish the first MRI system at this field strength in the world. It will provide a national and international resource that will help cement the leading position of the Netherlands in ultra-high field imaging techniques and their application in Medicine and Neuroscience. The additional sensitivity afforded by the system combined with the improved ability to discern metabolite signals will offer scientists a powerful instrument for better characterization of a range of diseases and new insights into the workings of the brain. We aim on progress on three themes, neuroscience, brain disorders, and medical research:
Neuroscience
14 Tesla MRI opens the door to exploring biological structures in the living human brain that, until now, could only be studied in post-mortem tissue or animal models. Its unparalleled resolution makes it possible to distinguish all six histological layers of the cortex in action, allowing researchers to test theories of human computation, investigate communication between cortical layers, and reveal the feedforward and feedback processes that underlie every aspect of brain function.
With the ability to resolve the fine structure of the cortex, cerebellum, subcortical regions, and deep nuclei, the 14T MRI enables a powerful integration of anatomy and function. This makes it possible to study structure–function relationships and neural connectivity with a level of precision essential for both cognitive research and clinical applications.
At the same time, advanced spectroscopic imaging will measure excitatory and inhibitory activity within the brain, offering a window into the dynamic balance that shapes neural circuits. This approach also provides insight into the macromolecular composition of brain tissue, deepening our understanding of processes such as development, aging, and disease.
Brain Disorders
A deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of brain disorders is vital for developing more effective strategies for prevention and treatment. Today, much of what we know comes from post-mortem examinations—an approach that captures only the final, static stages of disease and overlooks the dynamic functional and molecular processes that drive these conditions.
The 14 Tesla MRI changes this landscape. Its exceptional sensitivity and unparalleled spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution make it possible to study brain disorders as they unfold in living humans. Ultra-high spatial resolution reveals subtle, fine-grained structural abnormalities, while simultaneously linking these changes to functional and molecular activity. At the same time, the greatly enhanced spectral resolution allows researchers to detect dynamic shifts in individual metabolites associated with pathological pathways, offering unprecedented insight into molecular interactions and ongoing disease processes.
Together, these capabilities open a new window into the mechanisms of brain disorders—transforming how we detect, monitor, and ultimately understand them.
Medical Research
DYNAMIC will open an entirely new window into human metabolism, delivering clinically relevant spatial resolution across the body that has never before been achievable. The extraordinary sensitivity of 14 Tesla MRI makes it possible to visualize the subtle chemical heterogeneity within tissues—revealing the metabolic micro-environment of cancer, inflammation, and their complex interactions.
With this level of detail, researchers will be able to characterize blood vessels and microvessels down to the level of regeneration, and to observe immune activity within the lymphatic system with unprecedented clarity. The system will even enable the study of cell mobility in organs through advanced single-cell tracking, offering transformative insights into fundamental biological processes and disease mechanisms.