MRI: Acquisition of a 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scanner for Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience

这项NSF MRI拨款为购买西门子3T MAGNETOM Prisma磁共振成像（MRI）扫描仪提供资金，用于人体结构和功能神经成像研究。波士顿大学做出了一项重大承诺，以扩大和加强神经科学研究，包括建造一座新的综合生命科学与工程研究大楼。新的认知神经成像中心和系统神经科学中心将位于这座新大楼内。获得MRI扫描仪将为波士顿大学神经科学研究人员和学生提供先进的神经成像仪器。该仪器位于波士顿大学新的多学科研究大楼内，将促进波士顿大学神经科学、工程和计算学院与学生之间的密切合作。波士顿大学的认知和系统神经科学研究人员共同致力于培养下一代科学家，并致力于增加STEM领域中代表性不足的群体的代表性。研究人员积极参与K-12外展项目，开发了认知神经科学和大脑测绘课程，积极培养本科生研究人员，为神经科学本科和研究生培训项目做出贡献，并努力增加STEM领域的少数民族代表性。购置一台新的核磁共振扫描仪将扩大波士顿大学的研究和培训资源。波士顿大学新成立的认知神经成像中心和系统神经科学中心的共同目标之一是通过连接多个系统级别来增加我们对大脑功能的理解。这些研究设施的开发将为波士顿大学神经科学研究人员提供最先进的设施，作为共享的核心研究设施，其目标是发展对大脑功能的理解，从细胞水平到系统水平，再到人类认知和行为水平。其目的是通过理解潜在的大脑网络，这些大脑系统中的神经回路，以及这些回路的细胞和分子成分来深入了解认知和行为。为了达到这一目标，需要科学家之间的多学科互动，开发和使用尖端的研究实验方法和先进的计算技术，包括先进的神经成像技术。波士顿大学的研究人员开展了强有力的合作，弥合了从动物到人类水平研究的差距。波士顿大学的研究人员发表了论文，并在跨学科合作方面取得了良好的记录，这些合作跨越了传统的界限，允许跨层次的数据集成。西门子3T MAGNETOM Prisma MRI系统的收购及其在多学科中心的放置将促进神经科学研究，而不是坚持传统的人/动物划分，允许开发将神经回路的理解与认知和行为联系起来的模型。

This NSF MRI grant provides funding for the purchase of a Siemens 3T MAGNETOM Prisma Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner for human structural and functional neuroimaging research. Boston University has made a major commitment to expand and strengthen neuroscience research, including the construction of a new Integrated Life Sciences and Engineering research building. A new Cognitive Neuroimaging Center and Center for Systems Neuroscience will be located within this new building. Acquisition of a MRI scanner will provide Boston University neuroscience researchers and students with access to advanced neuroimaging instrumentation. The instrumentation location within Boston University's new multidisciplinary research building will facilitate close collaborations between BU's neuroscience, engineering, and computational faculty and students. The cognitive and systems neuroscience investigators at Boston University share a commitment to training the next generation of scientists, and are focused on increasing the representation of underrepresented groups in STEM fields. The investigators are active in K-12 outreach programs, have developed courses in cognitive neuroscience and brain mapping, actively train undergraduate researchers, contribute to undergraduate and graduate training programs in neuroscience, and work to increase minority representation in STEM areas. The acquisition of a new MRI scanner will broaden resources for research and training at Boston University.One of the shared goals of Boston University's new Cognitive Neuroimaging Center and the Center for Systems Neuroscience is to increase our understanding of brain function by linking across multiple systems levels. Development of these research facilities will provide Boston University neuroscience researchers with state-of-the-art facilities as a shared, core facility for research, with the goal of developing an understanding of brain function that bridges across scales - from the cellular level, to the systems level, to the level of human cognition and behavior. The aim is to gain insight into cognition and behavior in terms of understanding the underlying brain networks, the neural circuits within these brain systems, and the cellular and molecular components of these circuits. To reach this goal will require multidisciplinary interaction between scientists developing and using cutting-edge research experimental methodologies with advanced computational techniques, including advanced neuroimaging technology. BU researchers have developed strong collaborations, which bridge the gap from animal to human level research. The Boston University investigators have publications and a proven track record of multidisciplinary collaborations that cut across traditional boundaries and allow for integration of data across levels. The acquisition of a Siemens 3T MAGNETOM Prisma MRI system and its placement within a multidisciplinary center will foster neuroscience research that does not adhere to the traditional human/animal divide, allowing the development of models that link the understanding of neural circuits to cognition and behavior.