# Upgrade of the Preclinical Horizontal 14T Magnet

> **NIH NIH S10** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2024 · $2,000,000

## Abstract

The goal of this proposal is to purchase a Bruker 15.2T magnet to replace the out-of-date 14T
Magnex magnet, which has been dedicated to supporting the high-resolution anatomical and
functional dynamic brain and whole-body 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
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 ultra-high field preclinical MRI platform for high-
resolution animal and ex vivo imaging. In particular, the proposed Bruker Magnet upgrade will
boost the translational potentials of the novel methodology, e.g. the single-vessel 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 Disease (AD),
cerebrovascular dementia, and brainstem injury-induced coma. etc., as well as for the internal
organ imaging of animal models. 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, and 3) Multimodal mechanistic signatures
of animal disease models. We have established the multi-modal neuroimaging platform to
combine 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 proposed
ultra-high field magnet upgrade will provide key technological improvement to support the
performance of the novel brain mapping methods based on 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:** 10849303
- **Project number:** 1S10OD036211-01
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Xin Yu
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $2,000,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-06-15 → 2026-06-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10849303

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10849303, Upgrade of the Preclinical Horizontal 14T Magnet (1S10OD036211-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10849303. Licensed CC0.

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