# Upgrade the 14T Ultrahigh Field Horizontal MR Scanner for Rodent and ex-vivo Imaging

> **NIH NIH S10** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2021 · $600,000

## 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The goal of this proposal is to purchase a Bruker AV-Neo console to replace the out-of-date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 human brain tissue 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 novel methodology, e.g. the single-
vessel fMRI and line-scanning fMRI, to bridge cellular and microvascular anatomy and functional
dynamics from animal to human brains. Also, this proposal will support over 20 research projects
funded by NIH, presenting critical translational efforts on the mechanistic studies of brain
disorders including Alzheimer’s Diseases (AD), Parkinson’s Disease, cerebrovascular dementia,
migraine, traumatic brain injury, and cardiac arrest (AC)-induced coma, as well as for the internal
organ imaging of animal models with hepatitis and hepatic fibrogenesis. The highly synergistic
and collaborative research projects outlined in our proposal can be summarized in three main
themes: 1) Neurovascular dynamic signaling, 2) Cutting-edge neuroimaging methodology, 3)
Multimodal mechanistic signatures of animal disease models. We have established the 14T-
based multi-modal imaging 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, based on 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:** 10175835
- **Project number:** 1S10OD028616-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** BRUCE R ROSEN
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $600,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-04-15 → 2024-04-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10175835

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10175835, Upgrade the 14T Ultrahigh Field Horizontal MR Scanner for Rodent and ex-vivo Imaging (1S10OD028616-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10175835. Licensed CC0.

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