# Multimodal Data Acquisition (MDA) Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · THE MIND RESEARCH NETWORK · 2020 · $327,028

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 The Phase III multimodal data acquisition (MDA) core provides: 1) state-of-the-art neuroimaging protocols
for stable and reliable imaging; 2) training of principal investigators (PIs) and their support staff on general and
practical aspects of acquiring neuroimaging data (e.g., physics of imaging, how to avoid and correct for motion
artifacts); and 3) new technological development to answer questions that will lead to new core capabilities and
help future users of the MDA core. Specifically, the MDA core will support neuroimaging protocols based on
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetoencephalography (MEG) and electroencephalography (EEG).
These protocols include high resolution structural MRI (sMRI), diffusion MRI (dMRI) to map fiber connectivity,
functional MRI (fMRI) to characterize changes in blood oxygenation as a consequence of neuronal activation,
MEG/EEG to directly monitor neuronal activation with high temporal resolution, and MR spectroscopy (MRS) to
measure brain metabolic profiles. The emphasis is on multimodal imaging so each Project PI will acquire imaging
data from some combination of the above including concurrent EEG-fMRI or MEG-EEG. Training of PIs and
support personnel consists primarily of lectures embedded within weekly meetings and a formal monthly seminar
series managed by the administrative, clinical assessment, and mentoring (ADM) core. New MRI protocols will
be developed during Phase III that take full advantage of the 32-channel radio-frequency (RF) coil now available
at MRN. New developments include: 1) examining white matter integrity (myelin maps and structural 
connectivity); 2) attaining higher temporal resolution in concurrent EEG-fMRI experiments for studying dynamic changes
in functional connectivity; 3) developing optimal methods for removal of physiological noise; and 4) optimizing
three-dimensional GABA measurement methods to enable reliable measurements over smaller voxels. This core
is led by Dr. Julia Stephen (MRN) with over 20 years of experience in MEG/EEG methods, along with MR 
physicists Drs. Arvind Caprihan (MRN) and Stefan Posse (UNM Neurology) who each have 20+ years of experience
with MR-based methods. Drs. Larry Wald (MGH) and Matthew Brookes (Univ. Nottingham) are consultants on
this core.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9925097
- **Project number:** 5P30GM122734-03
- **Recipient organization:** THE MIND RESEARCH NETWORK
- **Principal Investigator:** JULIA MARIE STEPHEN
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $327,028
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2020-05-02

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9925097

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9925097, Multimodal Data Acquisition (MDA) Core (5P30GM122734-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9925097. Licensed CC0.

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