Magnetic Resonance Core
Housed under the Yale Bioimaging Institute the MR core is a revenue-neutral (fee-for-service) inter-institutional service provider.
The Yale MR Core provides cutting-edge MR imaging for various applications, from acquisition strategies and methodology development to data analysis and archiving. With expert physicists and engineers on staff, the core supports novel hardware development and pulse sequence strategies. It is equipped with five whole-body MRI scanners, including three Siemens 3T Prisma scanners, a 3T Siemens Vida system, and a Bruker 4T, along with two preclinical magnets (9.4T and 11.7T Bruker). The MR Core also features custom-built electromagnets, advanced RF and NMR systems, human behavioral testing rooms, and data storage and analysis facilities, all dedicated to research imaging.
For more information about the Yale MR Core, please contact:
- Todd Constable, MR Core Co-Director
- Doug Rothman, MR Core Co-Director
- Leigh Nerka, MR Core Administrative Manager
- Meko Owens-Ward, Senior Administrative Manager
Services
Services that the Yale MR Core can provide include:
- Siemens 3T magnet
- fMRI Vida
- Bruker 4T magnet
- Bruker (9.4T or 11.74T) for small animal
- Agilent 500 MHz Spectrometer
- Technology services (restore data, back-up scan)
Related Link
Initiating a Study in the MR Core
Have a new research idea? Want to submit a protocol at the MRRC for a new study? Here you will find a wealth of information about getting started - submitting new protocols, scheduling scanner time, usage charges, and renewing protocols at the MRRC. Please review all relevant documents carefully.
All new investigators with studies that involve the use of the MRRC are required complete the following:
- Read the MRRC Safety Policy.
- Have a valid IRB#
- Complete IRB Training.
- Complete MR Safety Training. Further instructions on fulfilling the MR Safety Training are detailed in the MRRC Imaging Policy document.
- All research personnel who work in the MRRC must undergo MR training. Training consists of four requirements: (1) Online training with quiz, (2) Read and attesting to MR Imaging Policy, and (3) Safety Training Video which are all one-time requirements and (4) the MR Safety Questionnaire which is required every two years.
- Fill out the Proposal for use of MRRC document
Questions?
Training Links
- Access MR Safety Training for the learning content which includes the Imaging Policy, Online training with quiz, and the safety training video. All one-time requirements:
- Access the learning content for the MR Safety Questionnaire which is required every two years.
User Fees
Note: Users should plan on a 3-4% annual increase in scan fees every July 1st.
| Service | Minimum slot time | Internal funding (fund 02, 028) | Internal clinical trials (fund 029) | External funding - not-for-profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prisma & Vida 3T MR Imaging * | 1 hour | $696.00 | $1,392.00 | $818.84 |
| Bruker 4T (Human) | 1 hour | $567.00 | $1,134.00 | $667.08 |
| Bruker 9.4T & 11.74T † | 3 hours | $874.50 | $1,749.00 | contact for rate |
| Bruker 9.4/11.74T Overnight/Weekends(fixed tissue samples) | 6 hours | $874.50 | $1,749.00 | contact for rate |
| Agilent 500 MHz Spectrometer | 1 hour | $58.00 | $116.00 | contact for rate |
| Data Restore - Prisma & Vida 3T | N/A | $48.50 | $97.00 | contact for rate |
| Scan Back-up | N/A | $139.00 | $278.00 | contact for rate |
| Scan CD Archive | N/A | $139.00 | $278.00 | contact for rate |
*All 3T and 4T MRI time is scheduled and charged at a minimum of 1 hour (with an additional 30-minute increment option). An fMRI slot is typically 1.5 hours.
† Prior approval is required for scans less than 3 hours on the Bruker 9.4T/11.74T. Please contact Basav Ganganna with any requests for prior approval.
Industry Supported Research
For further information on magnet time pricing for industry-sponsored research please contact, Leigh Nerka.
Cancellation Policies
MRI - Siemens 3T Prisma A, B and C & 3T Vida scanner
- You will be charged for scan time whether or not you show up. The MRRC policy regarding scanning is that we charge for booking the scanner.
- The scan time includes the time it takes to get the subject into the magnet at the start and out of the magnet at the end. If you constantly go over your booked time you need to either shorten your protocol or extend your slot. (slots are allocated with one-hour minimum time and additional 30-minute increments).
- There is a minimum 2-week notification required to relinquish a slot and avoid paying for it.
- There is a listserv fmri_slots@mailman.yale.edu where slots can be posted to the community for sale. If someone picks up your slot and the Chief Tech is notified, the new user will be responsible for paying for it and you will not. If no one picks up the slot you will be responsible for paying for it.
- Outside users pay a premium to cover overhead (the Dean’s tax) not captured by Yale with external grants.
- If you bring the MR techs in for a special study off hours and they are paid overtime, there will be an incremental fee added to cover the overtime.
- Excessive cancellations or selling of a permanently allocated slot (defined as selling or not using a slot >50% of the time) will result in the slot being assigned to another investigator.
For scheduling MRI systems (3T) please email mrrc-mri-scheduling@yale.edu.
High Field Small Bore Systems for MRI/MRS
- You will be charged for scan time whether or not you show up. The MRRC policy regarding scanning is that we charge for booking the scanner.
- The scan time includes the time it takes to get the animal into the magnet at the start and out of the magnet at the end. If you constantly exceed your booked time you need to either shorten your protocol or extend your slot.
- Contact Basav Ganganna at basavaraju.ganganna@yale.edu for cancellations. If no one picks up the slot you will be responsible for paying for it.
Bruker 4T MRI/MRS
- There is a minimum 2-week notification to relinquish a slot without paying for it, unless another user pays for the slot. Contact Graeme Mason for cancellations and scheduling.