Featured photo: Leadership and technical teams from GE HealthCare and Cincinnati Children’s Radiology Department celebrate the installation of the SIGNA™ Premier 3T wide-bore MRI scanner in the Imaging Research Center.
On December 15, 2025, the Imaging Research Center (IRC) celebrated the official ribbon cutting for our latest technology milestone: the SIGNA™ Premier 3T wide-bore MRI scanner. We call this our T1 scanner. Families who come to Cincinnati Children’s expect the very best care, and with the acquisition of equipment such as our new scanner, we’re able to strengthen our commitment to doing the very best pediatric imaging research.
This advanced MRI system represents a major step forward for scientific discovery and signifies a deepening collaboration between GE HealthCare and Cincinnati Children’s. The SIGNA™ Premier 3T wide-bore MRI scanner is designed to support some of the most advanced imaging applications in the world. This includes highly specialized research such as Connectome type studies, which map the intricate wiring of the brain. These studies rely on techniques like ultra short echo time (TE) diffusion imaging and high-resolution resting state functional MRI (fMRI)—capabilities that only a handful of MRI systems can deliver. The Premier joins the fleet of high-end Philips 3T and 1.5T scanners currently in the IRC.
The SIGNA™ Premier 3T wide-bore MRI scanner is built for innovative research, provides exceptional image quality, and has been designed with patient (and research participant) comfort in mind. From quietscanning technology to a spacious feel, the Premier creates a calm, reassuring experience for children undergoing MRI exams.
Beginning in early 2026, the new T1 MRI scanner will start supporting imaging studies across a wide range of clinical and research programs. Its dual strengths—high-end performance and patient-centered design—mean that children will benefit from innovations in imaging science without sacrificing comfort or efficiency.
We’re proud to bring this remarkable technology to our patients, families, and community and to deepen our collaboration with GE HealthCare. The SIGNA™ Premier 3T wide-bore MRI scanner supports our ongoing mission: to combine compassionate care with world-leading research, ensuring every child has access to the most advanced imaging tools available.
Matt Lanier, Advanced MRI Technologist at Cincinnati Children’s Imaging Research Center. ARRT certified in Radiography and MRI, Matt is a leader in imaging, a pioneer in HIFU, and a vital part of groundbreaking research.
Glenn Miñano is a media specialist in the Department of Radiology, providing graphic design, photography, printing, video services, and administration of the department’s online properties. His works have been published in several medical articles, such as the American Journal of Radiology and the American Institute of Ultrasound. He has been providing these services to the Radiology Department since 1996.
Meredith Towbin is a freelance copy editor and writer. She has copyedited the Department of Radiology’s blog since it launched. She also works as a copy editor for the home improvement website BobVila.com. Her writing has been featured on HuffPost as well as other writing sites.
