West China Hospital and Neusoft Medical Launch Joint Center for High-End MRI Innovation
West China Hospital of Sichuan University and China-based Neusoft Medical have officially launched a Joint Innovation Center for High-End MRI Technology. Announced during the 2025 West China International Forum on Schizophrenia Frontiers in Chengdu, the collaboration seeks to drive advancements in neuroimaging with a particular focus on psychiatric disorders.
The two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding on August 2 to formalize the partnership, which will prioritize both technological innovation and clinical application. Leaders from both organizations, including hospital executives and Neusoft Medical’s senior management, attended the signing ceremony, joined by over 300 experts in psychiatry and medical imaging from around the world.
West China Hospital, a nationally recognized leader in psychiatric clinical research, brings extensive expertise, rich patient data, and a skilled research team to the initiative. Neusoft Medical Systems, part of the General Technology Group, contributes two decades of R&D experience in multimodal imaging and a robust medical device industrialization pipeline.
The new joint center will serve as a platform for integrating scientific research with clinical practice. It aims to set a national benchmark for MRI innovation, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of brain-related conditions. Li Yingsa, Vice President of Neusoft Medical and General Manager of the company’s MRI division, highlighted the project’s goal of transitioning brain disease diagnostics from empirical approaches to molecular-level quantification using advanced multimodal MRI technologies.
This agreement builds on the strategic partnership first established in 2024. Previous joint initiatives included a high-end CT clinical demonstration program backed by national ministries and an international training program under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Going forward, the partners plan to continue pooling clinical and industrial strengths to accelerate the localization and global competitiveness of China’s MRI technologies. The center represents a strategic step in advancing self-developed, high-end medical imaging solutions and in shaping the future of psychiatric diagnostics through innovation.
