Access and Using the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research

All UIC faculty and students are welcome and invited to use the scanner (3T EXCITE HDMR Signa General Electric Medical Systems, Waukasha, WI) and computer cluster available within the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research. The Center is finally open for use by the wider university clinical and research community.

The policies of the CMRR were planned and organized through the CMRR Management Advisory Board (see annual reports, 2000-2001, 2001-2002, 2002-2003 and 2003-2004) constituted from department and research leaders in the clinical and research areas from the College of Medicine and Hospital administration to make access to the Center as convenient as possible. The Center is now organized through quarterly Town Meetings to which all interested parties are invited to contribute to the ongoing organizational input of the Center. Imaging time now constitutes 25 hours/week (Mon-Fri, with MR technologist) and weekends (without with MR technologist) as agreed to by both the Hospital administration and College of Medicine.

For clinical studies, physicians can order high quality 3T MRI, MRA and MRS examinations of the head and spine and musculoskeletal MRI examinations of the lower extremities including the knee and foot. Scheduling is done by requesting a 3T MRI examination through the Department of Radiology. Clinical functional MRI examinations can be scheduled (1:00-2:00pm, 2:00-3:00pm, Mon through Thursday) through CMRR administration (Joann Glacken, 312 996 9786).

For research studies, researchers should set up the appropriate account agreement with the Center. This usually is best done through a brief discussion with Keith Thulborn at (312) 355-3755 or email kthulbor@uic.edu to select the best account mechanism and then by completing the account agreement found under the Documentation page on this CMRR web site and then following the instructions on that document. This involves contacting Joann Glacken, the Coordinator of Administrative Services at (312) 996-9786. The requirements are minimal and the same for all investigators (budget agreement, proof of IRB or animal subcommittee approval, written proposal of less than 5 pages giving hypothesis, MRI protocol and analysis method). These simple steps lead to an account number that allows scheduling of scanner time. The accounts are of several types: Unfunded investigators wishing to develop pilot results for grant applications are encouraged to request pilot time of 5-10 hours. The Center and College of Medicine supports a limited number of these accounts. Funded investigators are issued with accounts that are charged for services. Costs are dependent on the source of funding (federal, industrial, etc) and the resources used.

The Center has been established for the UIC faculty to use. The Center is open to everyone and many Departments and Colleges are currently using the facility. Educational programs for post graduate students and faculty can use the CMRR conference room (limited to 35 people). It is ideal for display and projection of medical imaging.