NINDS Center Core for Brain Imaging

描述(由申请人提供)： 这项提议是在华盛顿大学建立NINDS脑成像中心(NCCBI)。该中心的目标将是提高我们机构神经影像研究的质量、多样性和利用率。随着NCCBI的成立，我们将能够实现以下具体目标： 1.以前几乎没有或几乎没有成像经验和最少获得成像资源的神经科学家将能够利用最先进的技术和分析，通过新的人类或动物大脑成像实验来加强他们的研究。我们确定了10个由NINDS资助的研究项目(其中8个是项目公告中定义的合格项目)，由研究人员领导。 2.具有成像经验和正在进行的成像项目的神经科学家作为一个群体，将能够大幅扩展他们获得的成像措施的类型，改善成像数据的质量，并提高其成像研究的效率。我们确定了22个由NINDS资助的研究项目(其中14个是合格项目)，由研究人员领导。 NCCBI将由三个核心组成，以实现这些目标：管理核心、放射化学核心和成像核心。行政核心将a)确保核心教员和神经科学界之间的高水平沟通，b)通过执行委员会管理资金和人事资源，c)通过指导委员会接受新用户并为核心活动设定优先事项，d)组织包括访问讲师在内的系列讲座，e)为教员和用户维护一个网页，以便能够进行关于成像应用的讨论。放射化学核心将建立一个放射化学实验室，以实现使用PET放射性示踪剂进行翻译神经科学研究。这将通过a)利用EAST大楼回旋加速器-放射化学设施内的新空间来支持神经科学中的PET研究，b)建造专门用于参与NCCBI的研究人员的自动合成系统，以及c)雇用新的人员来设计、维护和运行放射性药物生产。成像核心将提供广泛的服务，以增加大脑成像研究的可用性，包括a)关于设计和实施新的成像研究协议的培训系列和咨询，b)图像数据的中央数据管理工具，c)获取PET和MR数据的自动化和半自动处理例程，以及d)在新的成像技术开发时协助验证和传播，包括扩散张量成像、扩散张量跟踪和磁共振成像。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal is to create the NINDS Center Core for Brain Imaging (NCCBI) at Washington University. The goal of this Center will be to enhance the quality, diversity and utilization of neuroimaging research at our institution. With the creation of the NCCBI we will be able achieve the following specific aims: 1. Neuroscientists with little or no previous imaging experience and minimal access to imaging resources will be able to augment their research with new human or animal brain imaging experiments using state-of-the art technologies and analyses. We identify ten NINDS-funded research projects (eight of which are qualifying projects as defined by the program announcement) headed by investigators in this category. 2. Neuroscientists with imaging experience and ongoing imaging projects will, as a group, be able to substantially expand the type of imaging measures they obtain, improve the quality of the imaging data, and increase the efficiency of their imaging research. We identify 22 NINDS-funded research projects (14 of which are qualifying projects) headed by investigators in this category. The NCCBI will be created with three cores to achieve these aims: an Administrative Core, Radiochemistry Core, and Imaging Core. The Administrative Core will a) insure a high level of communication between the core faculty and the neuroscience community, b) administer the funding and personnel resources through an Executive Committee, c) accept new users and set priorities for Core activities through a Steering Committee, d) organize a Lecture Series including Visiting Lecturers, and e) maintain a Web page for faculty and users to enable ongoing discussions on imaging applications. The Radiochemistry Core will establish a radiochemistry laboratory to enable translational neuroscience research with PET radiotracers. This will be achieved with a) utilization of new space within the East building cyclotron-radiochemistry facility to support PET research in the neurosciences, b) construction of automated synthesis systems dedicated to the research needs of the investigators participating in the NCCBI, and c) hiring of new personnel for design, maintenance and running of radiopharmaceutical production. The Imaging Core will provide a broad spectrum of services to increase availability of brain imaging research including a) Training Series and consultation on design and implementation of new imaging research protocols, b) central data management tools for image data, c) access to automated and semi-automated processing routines for both PET and MR data, and d) assistance in the validation and propagation of new imaging techniques as they are developed, including those in diffusion-tensor imaging, diffusion-tensor tracking, and MRS.