Medical imaging, a multidisciplinary field integrating life sciences, medicine, electronics, and computer science, is one of the most important methods of clinical diagnosis. Major research directions include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound imaging, medical image processing, and clinical applications. The discipline conducts in-depth studies in biomedical imaging methodologies, multimodal image processing, imaging hardware and software platforms, and image-assisted diagnosis and therapy. A series of novel technologies with great value of clinical research and industrial applications have been developed and promoted. In 2010, theCenterof Biomedical Imaging Research (CBIR) in Tsinghua University was established, dedicated to developing new methods and biomarkers for the early, non-invasive, and dynamic diagnosis of major diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders.

With strong institutional support for disciplinary development, the CBIR was designated in 2012 as the Beijing Engineering Research Center for Multimodal Medical Imaging by the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission. The Center attracted distinguished scientists and outstanding young scholars in medical imaging, focusing on medical imaging methodologies and their clinical applications. It actively promoted the development of imaging in China and provided globally oriented multidisciplinary services in research, education, and clinical translation.

The Center is equipped with two state-of-the-art 3T whole-body MRI systems (Philips Ingenia CX 3.0T and Siemens Prisma 3.0T), one 5T whole-body MRI system (United Imaging Jupiter 5.0T), multiple ultrasound imaging systems including the ICONEUS One functional brain ultrasound platform, as well as supporting imaging technologies, software and hardware development platforms, image data processing tools, and clinical imaging software. Its dedicated technical team provides comprehensive support for basic science research, imaging technology development, and clinical translation, with MRI as its core platform.

Since its establishment, the Center has undertaken nearly 100 national and provincial-level research projects funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Ministry of Health, and the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission. It has secured over 50 million RMB in research funding, published more than 600 papers, filed over 60 invention patents and 10 international patents, trained 108 graduate students, and received more than 30 awards.

The Center has emerged as a leading global hub for medical imaging, particularly MRI technology development including pioneering innovations such as large-field, high-resolution multi-contrast vascular wall imaging; three-dimensional quantitative myocardial imaging; quantitative blood flow imaging; quantitative physiological imaging; and distortion-free high-resolution diffusion imaging. These novel technologies have been widely applied in large-scale population-based clinical cohort studies, yielding original imaging solutions for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.

Currently, the Center continues to foster a vibrant academic environment, an excellent educational platform, and an open experimental setting, driving the advancement of related disciplines and industries, and striving to become a world-class biomedical imaging center.