Getting Started

To start using the preclinical imaging facilities at the Martinos Center:

  1. Make sure the proposed MRI procedures are covered in your MGH IACUC animal protocol. Note that if you will require a Martinos imaging technician to perform the imaging study you will need to add them to your IACUC animal protocol.
  2. Complete the MRI screening RedCap form.
  3. Complete the MRI Safety training and Small Bore MRI training modules in Healthstream.
  4. Sign-up for and attend one of the in-person small bore MRI safety training sessions offered on the first and third Wednesday of each month.
  5. The project PI will need to apply for a new Project Account. More details can be found at the New Research Projects page.
  6. Get trained to operate the MRI scanner (see details below). Note that this can take some time so plan your studies accordingly.
  7. Reserve time on the appropriate scanner schedule. Scan time can be reserved in two ways:
    • Apply for a regular repeating scan time slot by submitting a ​​Scanner Time Request Form. Scanner schedules are generated every 4 months.
    • Reserve open scanner slots on an ad hoc basis. Check out the scanner schedules for available open slots. You may reserve up to five open slots for any one group in a one-month period. You may not reserve open slots more than 31 days in advance. Special requests should be sent to small-bore-time.​
  8. There are animal surgery rooms adjacent to each scanner. If you will need to use the surgery room make sure to reserve the surgery room in addition to the scanner.
  9. Make sure to subscribe to the small-bore email list to receive scanner updates and scheduling information.

 

If you want to be trained to operate the scanner you will need to:

  1. Operate the MRI scanner under supervision of an experienced user for at least 6 imaging sessions and pass a hands-on preclinical scanner operation and troubleshooting quiz.
  2. Have your PI apply for a Martinos Center scanner login account for any staff that will be using the scanners. Note that the project PI will need to have a scanner Project Account and their own Martinos computer login account before they can request login accounts for their staff.

 

For imaging in vivo animals you will need an MGH IACUC protocol

  1. If you do not have an MGH IACUC protocol you will need to create one in Insight. Note that IACUC protocols from other institutions are not acceptable for imaging at MGH.
  2. To create a new protocol Login to Insight and click on “animals”. Under actions then click on “create protocol”.

 

For imaging ex vivo tissue (if not already included in your IACUC protocol):

  1. You will need to submit a tissue form through Insight as detailed below.
  2. Login to Insight, click on “create protocol” in the left hand navigational panel (under “Animals”).  The first form that comes up is the “Initial Review”.  Check the second box in Question C and this brings up the Tissue form. The tissue form auto populates. If you have any questions you can contact Heidi Langendoen at HLANGENDOEN@mgh.harvard.edu.