3T quasar dual MRI scanner for multimodal and molecular imaging

描述（由申请人提供）：该提案要求国家研究资源中心（NCRR）高端仪器资助计划（S10）提供1，944，611.50美元的直接费用，以资助用于多模态和分子成像的关键3 T类星体双MRI扫描仪。这种新仪器将取代目前在波士顿大学医学院生物医学成像中心运行的技术上明显较差的3 T Philips Intera MRI扫描仪。生物医学成像中心（CBI）是波士顿大学的核心研究中心，为大波士顿大学和波士顿地区的生物医学研究社区提供服务。目前，共有70多个不同的生物医学成像项目正在使用现有的系统进行，从自闭症谱系疾病的纵向评估，酒精中毒中皮质代谢物浓度的变化，以及阿尔茨海默病神经成像倡议。然而，由于当前扫描仪配置的有限技术能力，例如低梯度强度、缺乏多核MR波谱能力以及接收通道数量有限，我们当前3 T扫描仪对这些重要心理健康问题的解释能力受到极大阻碍。新的类星体双3 T MRI扫描仪将为我们中心的能力提供一个巨大的飞跃，以满足我们NIH资助的研究人员的关键成像需求。主要的改进是：1.梯度强度显著增强：从当前的2.5高斯/cm增加到8高斯/cm。2.从目前的质子探测到宽带多核探测能力。3.从目前的6个接收通道到16个接收通道。这些增强的功能将对目前执行的许多项目以及计划在3 T扫描仪上执行的项目产生巨大的积极影响（更多详细信息请参见项目叙述）。 公共卫生相关性：所要求的新仪器所带来的技术能力的极大提高将对波士顿大学和波士顿地区的生物医学研究界具有最重要的意义。这些改进不仅仅是增量的，导致在我们中心获得的3 T MRI数据的解释力在质量上更高。这反过来有望大大促进基本生物医学成像结果转化为临床现实。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests $1,944,611.50 in direct costs from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) High-End Instrumentation Grant Program (S10) to fund a crucial 3T quasar dual MRI scanner for multimodal and molecular imaging. This new instrumentation will replace the technically significantly inferior 3T Philips Intera MRI scanner currently operational at the Center for Biomedical Imaging of the Boston University Medical School. The Center for Biomedical Imaging (CBI) is a Core Research Center of the Boston University serving both the greater Boston University and Boston area biomedical research community. Currently, a total of more than 70 different biomedical imaging projects are being performed using the existing system, ranging from longitudinal assessment of Autism Spectrum Disease, changes in cortical metabolite concentration in Alcoholism, and Alzheimers Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. The explanatory power of our current 3T scanner for these important mental health questions, however, is greatly hampered due to the limited technical capabilities of the current scanner configuration, such as low gradient strength, lack of multinuclei MR spectroscopy capability, and limited number of receive channels. The new, quasar dual 3T MRI scanner will provide a quantum jump of improvements in our Center's capability to serve the critical imaging needs of our NIH funded investigators. The major improvements are: 1. Significant enhancement of the gradient strength: from current 2.5 Gauss to 8 Gauss/cm. 2. From current proton only to broadband multi-nuclei detection capabilities. 3. From current 6-receive channels to 16-receive channels. These increased capabilities will have an immensely positive impact on the many projects presently executed, and on those that are planned for future execution on the 3T scanner (see Project Narrative for further details). PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The vastly improved technical capabilities resulting from the requested new instrumentation will be of highest relevance for the Boston University and Boston area biomedical research community. The improvements are more than incremental, resulting in qualitatively higher level of explanatory power for the 3T MRI data obtained in our Center. This in turn is expected to greatly facilitate the translation of basic biomedical imaging results into clinical reality.