The Albany Medical Center Neurosciences Institute joined with the General Electric Global Research Center to develop the Advanced Neuro-Imaging Research Center. The Research Center studies diseases of the central nervous system, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis.

Hyman Hayes Associates was commissioned to program, plan, and design the center, which involved renovation of 6,150 sf and the addition of 2,200 sf to an existing building on the Albany Medical Center campus.

The facility utilizes a 3.0T magnet, one of only 50 worldwide, in the study of both humans and animals.

The $1.4-million project included patient exam and support rooms; clinical and electronics laboratories; animal holding rooms; scan, reading and computer rooms; as well as offices and conference space for presentations of research findings. Because the center will be used by a variety of researchers (AMC, GE, NYS Wadsworth Labs, Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, and Union College) for different MRI and fMRI studies, extensive programming and planning was required to accommodate the varied requirements of these research specialties.