The success in facing grand challenges related to materials, food and health critically depends on the availability and development of comprehensive and non-invasive specimen characterization at the molecular level. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the most widely applied analytical methods and has found abundant application in biology, medicine and materials research. The versatility of NMR to characterize equally well all kinds of materials, biomolecules, processes and living organisms makes NMR spectroscopy an indispensable tool in the search for solutions for major problems that our society faces.
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In order to further develop the capabilities of NMR and thus advance the success in material, food and health sciences, the five major Dutch centres for magnetic resonance research in structural biology, materials and metabolic mapping as well as imaging techniques, together with COAST, formed in 2011 a national consortium. This concerted effort resulted in the implementation of a national ultrahigh-field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance facility (uNMR-NL, see movie) that provides open access to a new generation of NMR instruments operating at ultra-high field strength across scientific disciplines and industrial research. As a first step in this direction, the uNMR-NL consortium received funding to place in 2015 at Utrecht University a 950 MHz standard bore equipped with several solution-, solid-state an micro-imaging probes. Later, the first ultra-high field instrument, a 1.2 GHz standard bore NMR in the Netherlands, was placed in Utrecht and the 950MHz was transferred to Radboud Uninversity, as part of the program. |
In addition, the uNMR-NL consortium has, co-ordinated by the Radboud University, founded the Netherlands’ Magnetic Resonance Research school (NMARRS), a joint educational and research initiative. The research school also contributes to COAST’s talent program for MSc students in Analytical Science and Technology, MSc+.
Who can use the uNMR-NL facility?
Access to the facility at the national level is possible for academic or industrial users. Usage for international researchers can be granted through collaborations with uNMR-NL groups or via the international access programs iNEXT or INSTRUCT, in which uNMR-NL members participate.
How to obtain access to the facility?
Users can apply for measurement time by submitting a one-page (A4) project proposal on the access site. The proposal should contain the following information:
General information:
- First and last name of applicant
- E-mail address
- Group Affiliation of applicant and Postal Address
General information:
- (Molecular) System to be characterized and general scientific/technical question.
- Planned NMR/imaging experiments
- Previous NMR/imaging data and justification for high field usage
Proposals are judged on feasibility, scientific quality and on valid arguments for the need of high field.
For usage requests and more information about the uNMR-NL facility please contact:
Dr. Hans Wienk
Project Manager uNMR-NL Facility
Utrecht University
NMR research group
nmr_at_uu.nl