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Our History

Over 25 years we have pioneered innovation and applications in imaging neuroscience, addressed fundamental biological questions, and played a leading role in transforming cognitive and systems neuroscience.

Wellcome Department for Cognitive Neurology

(1994 – 2006)

  • Founding Director: Richard Frackowiak
  • Deputy: Semir Zeki

Addressing key questions about brain function and cognition

The Functional Imaging Laboratory (FIL) was founded in 1994 following a major award from the Wellcome Trust. It was incorporated within UCL’s  Institute of Neurology, as the Wellcome Department of Cognitive Neurology. Our early work pioneered and openly shared new neuroimaging techniques and analyses for understanding human cognition.

Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging

(2006 – 2016)

  • Director: Ray Dolan
  • Scientific Director: Karl Friston

Pioneering computational modelling approaches to neuroimaging

In 2006, were awarded Wellcome Trust Centre status (renewed in 2011), becoming the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging. A key development was our computational models of behaviour that could be linked to dynamic brain activity. In 2014, we opened the Max Planck-UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research.

Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging

(2017 – 2022)

  • Director: Cathy Price
  • Previous Deputy: Eleanor Maguire 
  • Current Deputy: Martina Callaghan

Delivering clinically-transformative computational neuroimaging

Renamed the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging after funding renewal in an open competition, the focus of our mission is to pioneer the clinical translation of human neuroimaging.