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Brown University MRF FAQ

• What is the MRF?
• How is the MRF structured?
• What role does the MRF Executive Committee have?
• What role does the MRF Scientific Advisory Committee have?
• What role does the MRF Training Advisory Committee have?
• What equipment is available to conduct MR research studies?
• Where do Brown researchers analyze MRI data?
• What is the fee structure for using the MRI Facility?
• If a researcher does not have research funds, can s/he do MRI research?
• How does the MRF staff assist in MRI research?
• What are the educational activities of the MRF?

For Researchers

• How many "dummy scans" are there in my experiment?
• My subject has braces; can they be scanned?
• My subject has a retainer; can they be scanned?
• Are dental fillings an exclusion criterion?
• Are tattoos OK?
• Is my data archived at the MRF?
• Where do I obtain a screening form for volunteers?

For Research Volunteers

• What should I expect when I come for a study?
• Where do I go?

1. What is the MRF?

The MRF is the Brown University Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Facility. It is a sub-division of the Brown University Institute for Brain Science and seeks to facilitate MRI research and education at Brown.

2. How is the MRF structured?

A listing of MRF administrative and technical personnel may be found here along with listings of the Executive and Scientific Advisory committees.

3. What role does the MRF Executive Committee have?

The MRF Executive Committee sets general policy issues for the MRF and oversees all MRF activities. It is comprised of faculty from various University departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Medical School, on-campus faculty and hospital-based faculty.

4. What role does the MRF Scientific Advisory Committee have?

The MRF Scientific Advisory Committee provides scientific direction for the MRF. It also reviews proposals submitted to the MRF to conduct MR-related research under the auspices of the MRF.

5. What role does the MRF Education and Training Advisory Committee have?

The MRF Training Advisory Committee provides oversight and sets direction for training and education activities of the MRF.

6. What equipment is available to conduct MR research studies?

Click here for a description of facility resources.

7. Where do Brown researchers analyze MRI data?

Some researchers analyze data in their laboratories with their own computer equipment. Others use the MRF data analysis facility.

The MRF can provide varying levels off support for some brain imaging analysis packages, including AFNI, MATLAB, SPM, FreeSurfer, FSL and Brain Voyager.

8. What is the fee structure for using the MRI Facility?

Use of the scanner for studies involving human participants is billed at a rate of $500/hr. Scanner time must be booked in one-hour blocks according to availability as listed on the booking calendar.

Studies that involve non-living samples or materials and require no special set up or break down are charged at the standard $500/hr rate. Special rate consideration may hold for long imaging runs that use ex vivo material.

Studies that involve imaging live animals or that otherwise require the participation of Animal Care Facility personnel are charged at a rate of $250/hr but will include a charge for two additional hours to accommodate set up and clean up. The minimum block of time that must be booked for such studies is four hours. We encourage groups running such studies to book for an entire eight-hour day whenever possible.

Animal studies that involve the use of the AC88 gradient insert will be charged at a rate of $250/hr and will include an additional two hours for set up and clean up. Studies that require the AC88 must book for the entire day.

9. If a researcher does not have research funds, can s/he do MRI research?

Full or partial subsidy for data acquisition and data analysis may be available for research projects funded from non-profit (public or private) sources or for unfunded projects. Projects funded from for- profit organizations (e.g., pharmaceutical companies) are not eligible for subsidy.

Awards of subsidized time are typically made up to a total of ten hours. Additional subsidized time may be available if the researcher can demonstrate a compelling need and is able to demonstrate reasonable success after ten hours.

Applicants for subsidized time must provide a cover letter indicating specifically how the data acquired will be used to pursue additional funding to be conducted at the MRF.

10. How does the MRF staff assist in MRI research?

MRF staff are available to provides strategic advice and consultation regarding the conduct MRI research and MRI data analysis. The MRF does not currently have the resources to conduct MR research for individual laboratories nor to provide analysis services for specific projects. 

11. What are the educational activities of the MRF?

The MRF works with University departments in facilitating educational activities. In the recent past, courses have been offered in which students learn about MRI and collect and analyze functional MRI data. Additionally, the Engineering Division has a yearly course in Medical Imaging.

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