Getting Started

The CNI facility has been designed to reflect the experimental needs in the social sciences disciplines. The core instrumentation provided by the CNI is a research-dedicated 3T MRI scanner (link here). In addition to the scanner, there is a mock scanner for training (link here), experimental testing rooms, and MRI integrated experimental equipment such as visual displays (link here), audio displays, and EEG (link here).

If you are interested in an introductory tour and access information to the facility please contact Laima Baltusis, MRI Facility Manager, by e-mail (laimab@stanford.edu) or by office phone (650 725 8382).

User Access & Training

The Stanford Center for Cognitive and Neurobiological Imaging (CNI) Committee uses the internationally accepted recommendations from the American College of Radiology in establishing the general rules pertaining to safe operation of research MRI facilities.

The CNI imaging facility is available to researchers by arrangement with the Facility Manager. Each individual investigator using the MRI facility must obtain basic magnet safety training and must also obtain additional training to use the MRI lab and to operate center equipment.

Access status is organized into three categories:

1. Level 1: MRI Safety Trained User. This individual works with a Level 3 MR operator and may enter the magnet room to assist. Level 1 investigators must have passed Safety training, but they need not have experience operating the scanner; Level 1 investigators cannot schedule or operate the scanner.
2. Level 2: Magnet Room User/ Apprentice Operator. This individual may enter the Magnet room to assist setting up the equipment, instructing and positioning volunteer subjects. A Level 2 investigator may only operate the MRI scanner under the supervision of Level 3 personnel.
3. Level 3: Magnet Room Operator. This individual has permission to run the MRI Scanner when CNI staff members are not present and to supervise Level 1 and Level 2 personnel. Level 3 investigators must have accumulated experience at Level 2, and then have passed a hands-on test administered by the CNI Facility Manager. Level 3 operators are given full privileges to the facility and can enter the facility at any time.

Project Review and Approval

All users at CNI must have IRB approval for research projects, and must be funded via a grant for billing purposes. Information about the procedures and policies related to obtaining IRB approval for research projects conducted at Stanford University is at the web site for Human Subjects Research at www.humansubjects.stanford.edu. Information about modification of existing protocols can be obtained here. (link here)

Projects cannot be initiated without relevant IRB approval. PI’s must provide written documentation of the initial IRB approval(s) and annual IRB renewal(s). The PI must make sure that the protocols list all personnel who will be conducting MRI research.

Researchers requesting authorization to use the scanner for human studies should submit their request along with a valid IRB approval for the study to the CNI Research Director, Robert Dougherty. Permission to use the scanner for non-human subject research must be approved by Research Director on a case-by-case basis.

Scheduling MRI Scanner Time

All scanner time is booked via the CNI web-based on-line scheduling system for approved users.

After receiving IRB approval, PI’s initiate the creation of Scanner Accounts by contacting the CNI Facility Manager and providing the following information:

1. Project title (ex. Neural Basis of Visual Pattern Appearance)
2. Funding source (ex. NIH, NSF)
3. Grant number(s) (as per funding source)
4. Grant Expiration Date
5. IRB approval dates
6. Abbreviated title: one or two word description. (This will be used along with the PI name and funding source to allow appropriate users to select a project when scheduling scanner time on the web-based scheduler, e.g., Smith- NIH Pattern).
7. A list of researchers associated with this project

The Facility Manager will contact the PI via email once the accounts have been set up.

Billing and Cancellation Policies

Scanner time is compiled from the web-based scheduling system and charged on a monthly basis. The Facility Manager sends an e-mail at the beginning of each month to all users including each PI containing all the hours scanned for the previous month and the accounts used. PI's must verify that the information is correct and send a reply, or charges are automatically be submitted at the end of the month. Users also have an opportunity to dispute charges during this time.