German Ultrahigh Field Imaging (GUFI)

德国超高场成像（GUFI）网络成立于2013年底，由DFG提供资金，用于建立核心设施，包括分布式国家网络，如GUFI。GUFI网络的成员现在包括在德国进行磁场强度>= 7特斯拉的人体超高场（UHF）磁共振（MR）成像的所有11个中心。一些国际伙伴也加入了该网络。GUFI的总体目标是促进和协调德国UHF MR站点的工作，并使更多的研究人员能够使用这种昂贵且高度复杂的技术。第一个供资期的重点是通过一个基于网络的门户网站以及定期的面对面会议促进各中心之间的沟通。该门户网站还使外部用户能够确定最适合其研究问题的UHF MR设施。已经制定了一个共识指导文件，给出了关于UHF MR研究基础设施的访问程序和规则的基本建议。GUFI成员还发布了关于如何确定无源植入物受试者是否可以在UHF MR上安全检查的共识建议。该网络已经建立了质量保证（QA）程序和相应的测量体模，适用于监测系统性能，并确保每个UHF MR系统都能以最佳性能工作。作为这项工作的延伸，GUFI进行并发表了一项研究，检查跨站点的测量再现性。这是第一项研究，为未来利用UHF结构成像的多中心研究铺平了道路。在即将到来的供资期间，主要重点将是继续开展联网和通信活动。我们还将进一步努力建立共识安全程序，包括基于在线课程的共同和相互认可的工作人员和用户培训，建立可安全接受成像的特定植入物数据库，以及关于自建射频线圈测试和评估的共识。我们还旨在通过开发适用于大脑以外区域的QA协议，并通过建立对QA程序期间收集的数据进行自动化定量评估的工具，来完善我们的QA活动。将计划并启动首批多中心试验。德国UHF MR社区是第一个在GUFI等网络中协调其工作的国家UHF MR社区，该项目的高知名度体现在国际UHF MR站点的积极参与以及基于类似概念建立的英国UHF MR网络，GUFI与之密切合作。

The German Ultrahigh Field Imaging (GUFI) network was founded at the end of 2013 with the aid of DFG funding provided by the call to establish Core Facilities including distributed national networks such as GUFI. Members of the GUFI network now include all eleven centers performing human ultra-high-field (UHF) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at magnetic field strengths >= 7 Tesla in Germany. Several international partners are affiliated with the network as well. The overall goal of GUFI is to facilitate and harmonize the work of the German UHF MR sites and make this expensive and highly complex technology accessible to a larger number of researchers. The focus of the first funding period was to promote communication between the centers via a web-based portal as well as regular face-to-face meetings. The web portal also enables external users to identify the UHF MR facility best suited to their research question. A consensus guideline document has been formulated that gives basic recommendations regarding access procedures and rules for UHF MR research infrastructure. A consensus recommendation on how to determine whether subjects with passive implants can be safely examined at UHF MR has also been issued by the GUFI members. The network has established quality assurance (QA) procedures and a corresponding measurement phantom suitable for monitoring system performance and ensuring that each UHF MR system is working at peak performance. As an extension of this work, GUFI conducted and published a study examining measurement reproducibility across sites. This is the first study that paves the way for future multicenter research studies utilizing structural imaging at UHF. In the upcoming funding period, a main focus will be continuation of the networking and communication activities. We will also further pursue our efforts to establish consensus safety procedures, including common and mutually recognized staff and user training based on an online course, establishment of a database of specific implants that can be safely accepted for imaging, and consensus regarding testing and evaluation of self-built radiofrequency coils. We also aim to refine our QA activities by developing QA protocols suitable for regions outside the brain and by establishing tools for automated, quantitative evaluation of data collected during QA procedures. First multicenter trials will be planned and initiated. The German UHF MR community was the first national UHF MR community to coordinate their efforts in a network such as GUFI, and the high visibility of this project is demonstrated by the active involvement of international UHF MR sites and the establishment of a UK UHF MR network based on a similar concept, with which GUFI closely cooperates.