3 T Whole Body Magnetic Resonance Scanner

描述（由申请人提供）： 该申请寻求NIH和NSF的部分资金，用于购买3特斯拉的全身磁共振扫描仪，用于人类和非人类灵长类动物的体内成像（MRI）和光谱学（MRS）。该扫描仪将被安置在休斯顿的德克萨斯大学医学院，该学院位于德克萨斯医学中心，该中心是四个主要研究机构和五家医院的所在地。该扫描仪将配备身体和头部RF线圈以及高性能梯度系统，能够产生40 mT/m的最大梯度振幅和200 mT/m/s的转换速率。此外，它将纳入五秒级室温超导体，以改善磁场均匀性。这种高性能系统将使我们能够实现先进的磁共振成像技术，如扩散张量成像（DTI），功能磁共振成像（fMRI）和光谱成像（MRSI）。扫描仪将包括DTI、fMRI和MRSI（2D、3D、多层和各种k空间扫描技术）的处理软件。将与制造商签署一份完整的研究协议，以访问脉冲序列和重建算法的所有源代码，从而修改现有序列并在扫描仪上实现更新的序列。这些将提供给所有用户。此外，扫描仪将提供原始数据，以测试先进的图像处理技术。这种高场和高性能MR扫描仪将用于研究1）各种神经系统疾病，2）通过融合MRI和MEG的信息来改善正常学龄儿童学习和发育的技术，以及3）先进的自动图像处理。将要研究的神经系统疾病包括人类和非人类灵长类动物的神经发育障碍、精神疾病和脱髓鞘疾病，如多发性硬化症。已经确定了14个用户的21个项目，这些用户是NIH和NSF资助的赠款的PI，具有重要的MR成分。虽然拟议项目的主要重点是神经成像，但我们预计未来的项目将包括身体成像，特别是心血管成像。强有力的机构承诺和财政计划，操作扫描仪，特别是长期维护，说明。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application seeks partial funding from NIH and NSF for purchasing a 3 Tesla, whole body magnetic resonance scanner for in vivo imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) in humans and nonhuman primates. The scanner will be housed in the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, which is located in the Texas Medical Center, home of four major research institutions and five hospitals. This scanner will be equipped with body and head RF coils and high performance gradient system that is capable of producing maximum gradient amplitudes of 40 mT/m with a slew rate of 200 mT/m/s. In addition, it will incorporate five-second order room temperature shims for improved field homogeneity. This high performance system will allow us to implement advanced MR imaging techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), functional MRI (fMRI), and spectroscopic imaging (MRSI). Processing software for DTI, fMRI, and MRSI (2D, 3D, multislice and with a variety of k-space scanning techniques) will be included with the scanner. A full research agreement with the manufacturer will be executed for access to all the source codes for the pulse sequences and reconstruction algorithm to modify the existing sequences and implement newer sequences on the scanner. These will be made available to all the users. In addition, the scanner will provide access to the raw data for testing advanced image processing techniques. This high field and high performance MR scanner will be used for investigating 1) various neurological disorders, 2) techniques for improving learning and development in normal school age children by fusing information from MRI and MEG, and 3) advanced automatic image processing. The neurological disorders that will be investigated include neurodevelopmental disorders in humans and nonhuman primates, psychiatric disorders, and demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Twenty-one projects by fourteen users who are Pl's on NIH and NSF funded grants with significant MR component have been identified. While the main thrust of the proposed projects is neuroimaging, we anticipate that future projects would include body imaging, particularly cardiovascular imaging. Strong institutional commitment and financial plans for operating the scanner, particularly the long-term maintenance, are described.