Advancing neuroimaging research in South Africa

Neuropsychiatric disorders account for the second-largest proportion of the burden of disease in South Africa. This fact places South African clinical and research neuroscientists in an often unique position to explore critical questions that are of international relevance. The use of high field strength MRI, a particularly versatile imaging tool, was conceptualised to address the lack of opportunity and capacity to do this kind of work in the South African context. As such, a multi-modality brain imaging initiative in the Western Cape, with MRI at the centre, evolved in 2007 to create a world-class imaging research and training environment.