Monday, Nov 04, 2024 • Katherine Egan Bennett : contact

The University of Texas at Arlington today opened a new $6.2 million Clinical Research Imaging Center (CIRC). Featuring a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging machine (MRI), the new 3,500-square-foot facility will advance research aimed at unlocking the body’s greatest mysteries.

“This advanced technology is an example of how we foster an environment of collaboration and excellence, propelling UTA to the forefront of discovery,” said UTA President Jennifer Cowley. “The addition of the CIRC expands our research infrastructure with the goal of improving health outcomes, while also accelerating scientific exploration and ensuring our faculty and students have access to the top tools in the field.”

Supported by funds from the National Research University Fund (NRUF), the new center is in UTA’s Science and Engineering Innovation and Research (SEIR) building on W. Mitchell Street. SEIR opened in 2018 and is devoted to promoting an interdisciplinary approach to research built around engineering, science, nursing, kinesiology and public health.

“The addition of the CIRC to UTA’s research capabilities comes at a pivotal time as the faculty expands through our RISE 100 initiative,” said Tamara L. Brown, Provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “The new facility will enhance our research capabilities and improve educational opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students.”

The CIRC will advance multiple areas of active research on campus, including neurocognitive sciences, cardiovascular disease, and musculoskeletal health, with support from units across campus, including engineering, kinesiology, physics, psychology, nursing, mathematics, computer science, social work, and business.

“UTA is expanding its exploration of the human condition, with total amounts for active National Institutes of Health awards expected to reach a record $58.7 million,” said Kate C. Miller, vice president for research and innovation. “The creation of the center and investment of a new MRI are testaments to our commitment to providing the tools necessary to support faculty and drive research in health innovation.”

“The opening of the CIRC is truly a dream come true, and really puts UTA on the map in terms of the clinical imaging research that we’re able to do on campus,” said CIRC Director Michael Nelson. “We have been working on this project for more than six years. I’m incredibly grateful to President Cowley, Provost Brown, and Vice President Miller for their leadership and support to make this facility a reality.”

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. With an enrollment of approximately 41,000 students, UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the UT System. UTA’s combination of outstanding academics and innovative research contributes to its designation as a Carnegie R-1 “Very High Research Activity” institution, a significant milestone of excellence. The University is designated as a Hispanic Serving-Institution and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education and has earned the Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to accelerating Latino student success. The University ranks as the No. 1 national public university in the U.S. for veterans (Military Times, 2024), No. 4 in Texas for advancing social mobility (U.S. News & World Report, 2025), and No. 6 in the United States for its undergraduate ethnic diversity (U.S. News & World Report, 2025). UT Arlington’s approximately 270,000 alumni occupy leadership positions at many of the 21 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas and contribute to the University’s $28.8 billion annual economic impact on Texas.