Media Release June 11 2008

Meet ARCHI – the first research-only scanner in Australia!

The CADE Clinic within the Department of Psychological Medicine at Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) celebrates a new addition to their unit. Meet ARCHI - the first clinical research dedicated scanner in Australia.

The University of Sydney owned MRI (scanner), affectionately named ARCHI (Advanced Research & Clinical High-field Imaging), is the centre-piece of RNSH and the CADE Clinic’s neuroscience research.

ARCHI has advanced medical research by providing novel brain imaging techniques that detect abnormalities in the brain. This high-tech scanner is used by a number of external and internal groups that are conducting research into the psychological impacts of chronic fatigue syndrome, brain injury and pain management.

One of the benefits of ARCHI is highlighted in research undertaken by Professor Gin Malhi and Dr Jim Lagopoulos into bipolar disorder, where ARCHI has been returning some meaningful findings.

When diagnosing bipolar and other psychological conditions, practitioners make judgements and diagnosis based on observations and checklists. Malhi and Lagopolous from the CADE Clinic (Clinical Assessment Diagnostic Evaluation) within the Department of Psychological Medicine at RNSH are helping to narrow the field.

Recent research has looked at the parts of the brain that are activated or deactivated in patients who have bipolar against those that don’t when presented with emotional stimuli. As bipolar disorder progresses ARCHI can monitor the blood flow and chemical changes. Initial research suggests that ARCHI could also be used to establish markers of any pre-disposition to bipolar.

Professor Michael Field, Associate Dean for the Northern Clinical School, Sue Capel, Service Director for North Shore Ryde Mental Health and Professor Gin Malhi, Head of the Department of Psychological Medicine will be launching ARCHI with details as follows:

Photographs: 11.30am – 12.00pm (by appointment)

Launch: 12.00pm – 12.30pm (followed by lunch)
Date: Thursday, 12 June 2008
Location: Level 5, Block 4, Department of Psychological Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital.

For further information on the CADE Clinic visit: www.cadeclinic.com

Media Contact: Emily Saker 9926 8313 / 0404 054 160

Authorisation Stamp