MRI Imaging Facility

Magnetic resonance imaging is an indispensable tool for non-invasively assessing structural and functional anatomy in vivo, both in animals and humans. MRI is particularly sensitive to changes in tissue microstructure and capable of providing extremely high spatial resolution for 3D localization.

As for all our programs, the NeuroDiscovery MRI program is designed to accommodate both the experienced investigator and newcomers to the technique. A permanent technical and scientific staff provides training and technical and experimental support that can be tailored to the needs of the individual investigator.

The program has a well established small animal 4.7T MRI facility in the Goldenson Building on the HMS quad and a new human and animal 3T facility at 221 Longwood Avenue (the old Lying-In Hospital).

Although the facilities may be available for use by researchers in any biomedical field, priority is given to work related to neurodegeneration and repair and other CNS projects. Those working on the design and implementation of new MR techniques are also invited to apply for access.

To ensure the smooth running of the facility we have developed user guidelines and regulations (see below). If however you find these guidelines do not accommodate your work, we welcome your inquiries and suggestions on how we could help you. Our aim is to attract the very best biomedical research and development projects to both facilities and to partner with you to ensure the success of these projects.

Program Resources

3T MRI Facility

The NeuroDiscovery Center has partnered with Brigham and Women's Hospital to open the Advanced MRI Facility at 221 Longwood Ave. This 3-magnet suite boasts fully upgraded facilities and a full support staff, offering users an excellent research environment. The suite encompasses a newly installed short-bore 3T instrument and an existing long bore 3T and 1.5T instruments.

The backbone of our partnership is prime-time access to a new short-bore 3T instrument, allowing us to seek out the most urgent and compelling MR-related projects from established MR investigators and novices alike.  Time on the 3T short-bore magnet can also be traded for time on the adjacent 3T long-bore instrument. Although we anticipate the majority of these studies will involve human subjects, some will involve primates too large for our 4.7T small animal instrument.

The short-bore 3T MRI instrument is a GE system running Exite v12 and is fully equipped for structural and functional images. A standard quadrature head coil is available, as well as an 8-channel head coil for parallel imaging. Moreover, GE's functional imaging package 'BrainWave' is installed. BOLD sensitized functional imaging data is acquired either using the research pulse sequence 'epibold' with off-line reconstruction, or GE's single- and multi-channel BOLD pulse sequences. Structural images are acquired with the regular imaging pulse sequences. Diffusion weighted data is collected with EPI or the pulse sequence LSDI.

For fMRI studies, the scanner is equipped with an MR compatible goggle system by Resonance Technologies and a visual back projection system with an LCD projector (the projection system is compatible with both single- and multi-channel head coils). Auditory stimulus is also possible with the Avotec audio system. Subjects' responses are recorded via a fiber-optic system by Current Designs. All three devices can be connected to study controlling computers, with accurate synchronization via electronic trigger pulses. Noisis v11 (software program developed in Matlab) is available for stimulus presentation and response recording.

The 3T long-bore magnet is equipped with the standard quadrature head coil.  The stimulus and response recording capabilities are identical to what's available for the 3T short-bore.

The facility also offers on site image analysis. There are two NeuroDiscovery computers available—a PC running Linux and a MAC G-5 . The main tools for data preprocessing and statistical analysis are the software suites SPM2/5 (matlab-based) and FSL (C-based). Automated archiving for a limited period of time after scanning will be offered for both structural images and for functional data. Super-fast image reconstruction and preprocessing followed by data analysis is offered with the software quick_spm and permits study quality control with subjects waiting in the scanner. MRI and fMRI data may be collected and archived using CD or DVD media, uploaded to our local servers, transferred via network to BWH/SPL or sent via the internet to other institutions.

4.7 T Small Animal MRI Facility

The NeuroDiscovery Center's small animal MRI facility is equipped with a 33cm wide bore Oxford 4.7 tesla magnet with a Bruker Biospec Avance console running XWINNMR and Paravision 3.02 software, including the Bruker diffusion package. An additional workstation running Paravision is on hand for data processing and pulse sequence development.

The spectrometer has a dual RF channel and two actively shielded gradient probes with diameters of 202mm and 120mm, with maximum gradient strengths of 10 G/cm and 20 G/cm respectively. RF coils available include 129Xe, 3He, and 1H birdcage volume coils, a 13C coil, and a variety of 1H surface coils for specialized applications such as mouse brain and rat spine.

The facility is also equipped with an animal positioning system, gas anesthesia, and respiratory and cardiac gating for localized in vivo investigation of small and intermediate sized animals such as mice, rats and rabbits. In addition, a specially designed asymmetric RF head coil allows brain studies on macaques.

Substantial expertise is available in all aspects of small animal MRI research, including training, experimental assistance and technical advise on image acquisition. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , an MRI physicist and research investigator, is available to help users gain access to the instrument and to develop applications for special projects.

Access

Priority is given to NeuroDiscovery members investigating neurodegenerative diseases and the central nervous system. The facility may also be available to other investigators within the Harvard medical community and the greater-Boston research community. (Under special arrangements the facility may also be made available to the commercial sector. For details, please contact the NeuroDiscovery Programs Manager, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .)

For investigators interested in human or animal research, you must have the appropriate approval. Approval lies solely with the overseeing committee, so please contact them directly with questions:

• Human research requires IRB approval. If you are using the facility as a core resource, an approved IRB protocol from your home institution should suffice. If you are collaborating with Partners' investigators or there is a higher level of collaboration with personnel at BWH, you must have an IRB approved by Partners' Human Research Committee.

• Animal research in either the 3T MRI or 4.7T MRI facilities is overseen by the HMS Standing Committee on Animals. You must have an approved animal protocol from the committee prior to using animals in either of the facilities. Animal housing is available and is controled by the Center for Animal Resources and Comparative Medicine (ARCM). For some guidance on gaining approval, you may also contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (4.7T MRI) or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (3T MRI)

3T MRI Facility

The allocation of NeuroDiscovery’s instrument time is via a competitive RFA process.  Successful applicants from throughout the NeuroDiscovery community will be given access to the instrument and the support of a qualified MRI research technician and MRI physicist to help with study design, protocol development, and running their experiments.  The RFA will be distributed on a regular basis within the community. We also accept rolling applications; please This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it a short abstract of the proposed project, an indication of how many hours you are looking for (hours per week over how many weeks), and how much prior experience you have.

To gain physical access to the facility you must have a valid BWH ID and complete the necessary training; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it is available to guide you through this process. IDs are available via BWH's Office of Sponsored Staff and will be sponsored by Dr. Ferenc Jolesz. Please download the information on how to apply.

All users must also complete the following mandatory training:

• MRI Safety Training - Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , MRI safety officer; (tel) 617.732.8684, (beeper) 617.732.5656 - 32028. He will email you a name and password for the online course: www.radmoodle.com/login/index.php. You must have a BWH ID to take this course.
• MRI Research Policy Training - Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (Tel: 617.974.3169).
• Animal Research Training - users interested in animal research must complete additional training for (1) infection control, (2) humane care and use of laboratory animals and (3) how to clean an MRI. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for further info.

4.7 T Small Animal MRI Facility

The 4.7T instrument is overseen by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; please contact Sharon directly to gain access.

Scheduling and billing for the 4.7T small animal facility is divided into three categories. Discounted hours are available to members of the BWH Radiology Department through a partnership agreement.

• All users must complete a user access form. This will generate a username and password. Please download and fax to Sharon Peled at 617.432.3364.
• Independent users must obtain MRI certification from facility staff, after which they will be able to access the facility 24 hours a day.
• Reservations are made in half-hour increments using our online reservation system. Bookings can be made up to three months in advance. Requests for unusually large blocks of time may be declined at the discretion of the facility staff.
• Users will be billed for the time scheduled or the time actually used, whichever is larger. Bookings may be cancelled before 9 am on the day prior to the scheduled system time. Failure to cancel appointments will result in charges for all scheduled time. It is the user's responsibility to keep or delete their appointments.
• There will be no charge for system failure or malfunction.
• All academic users are offered up to 20 hours free system evaluation time by prior agreement with the facility staff.
• We suggest all users bring a CD-RW to archive their data.
• Free time for pulse sequence development may be granted — please contact facility personnel.

Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with other inquires.