Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center Offers State-of-the-Art Imaging and More
On Thursday, March 28, 2019, at noon, during the Pathways to Success at the Einstein Cores bimonthly seminar series, held in the Forchheimer third-floor lecture hall, learn how resources within Einstein’s Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center can aid your research when Dr. Branch offers an overview of the MRRC and the capabilities of its facilities. Then hearing how Drs. Jeannette Mahoney and Chandan Guha are already putting these services to good use, working with the center’s team.
About the MRRC
The Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC) was first established in 2000 with a generous gift from the Gruss-Lipper Foundation, and has recently been upgraded by the department of radiology. The MRRC hosts novel, state-of-the-art, in vivo imaging equipment, including a new human Philips 3 Tesla Ingenia-Elition MRI. This multinuclear imaging and spectroscopy system facilitates imaging of protons and other nuclei (P-31, F-19, C-13 and others), and improves signal-to-noise by as much as 150 percent over other 3 T MRI’s, with unmatched imaging speed.
Translational research is a forte of our MRRC radiology research team, evidenced by the same imaging methodologies available in both humans and animals. The MRRC also hosts an ultra-high field Agilent 9.4T MRI for small animal imaging and spectroscopy, as well as a Siemens MicroPet and SPECT/CT system, providing the ability to image radionuclides and co-register radiographic imaging with MRI.
MRI imaging and spectroscopy requires complicated post-image processing of acquired data. The MRRC faculty have developed automated pipeline-based image analysis procedures, expediting acquisition-to-analysis of investigators’ MRI data. Researchers using these facilities are supported by an array of analysis platforms for both human and animal imaging data.
Support for processing of microstructural, anatomical, functional, physiological, and metabolic data is available within the center. Novel applications can and are often developed by the expert physics, neuroradiology, and chemistry staff. Center staff provide expert technological operation of all imaging equipment. The MRRC faculty provide expert support for use of its equipment, eliminating the need for expensive and time-consuming training in data acquisition, data analysis, and interpretation. MRRC staff support investigator-initiated grant writing, collaboration, and expertise, strengthening imaging-related proposals to external agencies.
Additional facility resources include cognitive testing facilities, intravenous blood sampling, and contrast infusion, animal housing for extended durations associated with longitudinal MRI and radiographic studies, and a full line of physiological monitoring devices for both animal and human use. Instrumentation is available for delivery of stimuli within the MRI magnets and support for preparation and physiological monitoring of both man and animals.
The MRRC facilities are located in the Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, adjacent to Weiler Hospital, Einstein’s Chanin Building, and the Max and Sadie Friedman Lounge.
MRRC Services
- Expertise in a variety of imaging pathways:
- Functional MRI
- Physiological MRI (perfusion, permeability, etc)
- Structural and anatomic MRI
- Metabolic spectroscopy
- Elastography.
- Consultation and design of imaging projects
- Development and implementation of novel image acquisition approaches
- All aspects of MRI data analyses.
- Collaboration on applications for external funding
Human Research
- Multinuclear human imaging and spectroscopy using a 3.0 Tesla Philips Ingenia Elition
- Turn-key image analysis and automated quantitative output for most application.
- Technological support for all your image acquisition needs
Animal Research
- Structural, functional and metabolic phenotyping in vivo
- Multinuclear noninvasive animal imaging using an Agilent 9.4 Tesla MRI/MRS
- Radioisotope imaging in animals using a Siemens uPET, and SPECT/CT
- Animal preparation, intravenous catheterization, tissue extractions
- Fixed Tissue Imaging for high-resolution structural phenotyping
- Technological support for animal preparation, anesthesia, and image acquisition
It’s Been Said
“Think of us in the Magnetic Resonance Research Center as your in vivo imaging collaborators. Our goal is to provide Einstein and Montefiore research faculty with access to the best non-invasive imaging methodologies possible to support their translational research. Our staff recognizes that in vivo imaging begins with complicated data acquisition, and quickly grows into a mountain of data with a commensurate need for data analysis. We provide collaborative or service-oriented support in data acquisition, followed by automated data processing and output of quantitative and tabulated results to speed your data acquisition-to-scientific reporting.”
—Craig A. Branch, Ph.D.
MRRC Director, Department of Radiology
“The MRRC staff has been instrumental across all phases of my K01 research project. Drs. Branch and Lipton encouraged me to seek additional funding from both internal and external mechanisms. In following their advice, I’ve received a two-part catalytic seed grant from the Einstein-Montefiore ICTR and an administrative supplement from the NIA. Dr. Fleysher is currently processing multimodal MRI data acquired from 127 older adults who were scanned at the MRRC; this analysis is ongoing, however, and our overarching aim is to uncover the neural networks responsible for multisensory integration in the aging brain. It’s been a pleasure to work with such a collaborative team, and I’m thankful for their support, patience, and mentorship during this most critical stage of my career."
— Jeannette R. Mahoney, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, The Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology; Division of Cognitive and Motor Aging
“The significant imaging resources available in the MRRC and its collaborative team have been indispensable in helping my team on our research projects in immune-oncology and regenerative medicine, funded by the NIH. Through collaboration with Dr. Branch, we've developed highly sensitive MR spectroscopic imaging techniques to monitor the engraftment and repopulation of hepatocytes and liver stem cells after cell therapy. We've also further developed a SPECT-CT imaging technique to study sinusoidal obstruction and vascular injury in the liver to monitor radiation-induced liver disease. These advances have enhanced our efforts and our ability to design effective radiation mitigating therapies for patients undergoing stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for liver cancer.”
— Chandan Guha, M.B.B.S.,Ph.D.
Professor and Vice Chair of Radiology; Professor of Pathology and of Urology
Posted on: Monday, March 25, 2019