# Alteration and Renovation

> **NIH NIH P20** · FATHER FLANAGAN'S BOYS' HOME · 2022 · $300,000

## Abstract

Abstract/Summary: Alteration & Renovation
The proposed alteration and renovation project would create an optically-pumped magnetometry (OPM) suite
for investigators in the Center for Pediatric Brain Health. OPM is an emerging technology for recording human
neurophysiological signals noninvasively at high spatial and temporal precision. The technology is totally silent,
lightweight, and especially unique in that the recording array is highly malleable and can be worn as a cap.
This flexibility makes the technology ideal for young children and even infants, as the cap can be tightly fitted to
smaller heads. Further, since the device is fitted to the person, movement is less problematic relative to other
brain imaging methods (e.g., functional MRI, MEG, etc.), which again makes it ideal for studying children. Given
these properties and the Center’s major strengths in neurophysiology and brain dynamics, we anticipate that
an OPM system would be widely utilized by Center investigators, including at least two of the four COBRE
research project leaders (RPLs). Thus, we propose to finish-out an OPM suite and construct a magnetically-
shielded room to house the OPM sensor array through this renovation project. Once the renovation is complete,
Boys Town National Research Hospital (BTNRH) will support the purchase of a state-of-the-art OPM system.
As stated elsewhere in the application, the new Center for Pediatric Brain Health would reside in the Institute
for Human Neuroscience building at BTNRH, which is a new 15,000+ square feet facility on their main campus.
This building was largely completed in 2020, with the only remaining unfinished areas being a ~245 square
feet room that is adjacent to some of the Institute’s other imaging equipment, and a portion of the basement.
The ~245 square feet space sits on the ground level and was originally designated as a possible site for a
future OPM system, given its distance from the MRI, low overall noise level, and other parameters. However,
the space was left unfinished during the major construction period because the precise dimensions and weight
of the shielded room were unknown, and these were needed to complete the cement work. Thus, we propose
to transform this space into a fully-operational OPM suite. The project will involve extensive cement work to
create an 18” deep, 10’2” square pit to hold the shielded room, as well as modifications to the mechanical,
electrical, and other building systems serving the room. New ceiling, sound-proofing, flooring, and cabinetry will
also be installed. Finally, a two-layer, high-performance magnetically-shielded room will be built within the pit.
The overall build-out plans were designed by the Leo A. Daly architectural firm, with Hawkins construction
performing the work. The shielded room would be built by Cerca Magnetics. We expect all construction to be
completed during year one of the COBRE funding and that the OPM system would be fully operational by the
middle of y...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10346723
- **Project number:** 1P20GM144641-01
- **Recipient organization:** FATHER FLANAGAN'S BOYS' HOME
- **Principal Investigator:** Tony W. Wilson
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $300,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-03-01 → 2027-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10346723

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10346723, Alteration and Renovation (1P20GM144641-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10346723. Licensed CC0.

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