# Bridging the cellular and microvascular anatomy and functional dynamics: Upgrade the 14T horizontal MR for rodent and ex-vivo imaging

> **NIH NIH S10** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2020 · $600,000

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The goal of this proposal is to purchase a Bruker AV-Neo console to replace the out-of-date Siemens console of
the 14T horizontal MR scanner (13cm bore), which has been dedicated to supporting the high-resolution
anatomical and functional dynamic brain mapping of animals and ex-vivo imaging. The Martinos Center at the
Massachusetts General Hospital has been at the forefront of developing advanced functional mapping methods,
e.g., functional MRI, and implementing the cutting-edge MRI methods to bridge the basic and translational
studies. To pursue the next-generation cutting-edge imaging methodology and prepare for the higher field MRI
translational studies, there is an urgent need to improve our 14T MRI preclinical platform for high-resolution
animal and ex vivo imaging. In particular, the proposed 14T MR console upgrade will boost the translational
potentials of the eight NIMH-funded projects with a synergistic goal to bridge cellular and microvascular anatomy
and functional dynamics from animal to human brains. In addition, this proposal will support nine mental-health-
related projects funded by other NIH Institutes, presenting critical translational efforts on the mechanistic studies
of brain disorders including Alzheimer’s Diseases (AD), cerebrovascular dementia, migraine, brain tumor,
traumatic brain injury, and cardiac arrest (AC)-induced coma. The highly synergistic and collaborative brain
research projects outlined in our proposal can be summarized in three main themes related to mental health: 1)
Neurovascular dynamic signaling, 2) Cutting-edge neuroimaging methodology, 3) Multimodal mechanistic
signatures of brain disorders and injury models. We have established the 14T-based multi-modal neuroimaging
platform to combine the high-resolution anatomical and functional MRI imaging with the emerging neuro-
techniques, e.g. optogenetics, optical fiber-mediated biosensor recording of Calcium, Glutamate, etc, promoting
novel mechanistic understanding of the complexity of brain function. The Bruker AV-Neo system will provide key
technological innovations to improve the performance of the novel brain mapping methods, e.g. the single-vessel
fMRI, line-scanning fMRI, RF slab-specific diffusion-weighted MRI, given the state-of-the-art electronics and
software design. Therefore, the proposed instrument upgrade would not only accelerate the progress of the listed
projects but also facilitate the translation of cutting-edge MR methodologies as a truly multidisciplinary, regional
resource for PHS funded investigators.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10104168
- **Project number:** 1S10MH124733-01
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** BRUCE R ROSEN
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $600,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-11 → 2022-09-10

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10104168

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10104168, Bridging the cellular and microvascular anatomy and functional dynamics: Upgrade the 14T horizontal MR for rodent and ex-vivo imaging (1S10MH124733-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10104168. Licensed CC0.

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