The purpose of this $963,000 project is to upgrade the research dedicated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner housed at the rocco ortenzio neuroimaging center (RONIC) at kessler foundation

This $963,000 Project Grant awarded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the Congressionally-Identified Projects program (CFDA 11.617) will fund the upgrade of the research-dedicated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner at the Rocco Ortenzio Neuroimaging Center (RONIC) at Kessler Foundation. The upgrades will replace the current 3 Tesla Siemens Skyra Magnetom MRI scanner with the latest Siemens "Vida Fit" technology, including new hardware, sensor-integrated surface coils, and upgraded MRI sequences and control software. The project will also install new rigging, cryogenic cooling systems, and host computer upgrades to fully support the scanner enhancements. These improvements are expected to enhance data quality and research efficiency for the broader northern New Jersey research community that utilizes the RONIC facility, including institutions like Rutgers University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Montclair State University. The award period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025.

Activities

The current MRI scanner, a 3 tesla, siemens skyra magnetom, will be upgraded to the latest siemens ?vida fit? Product line. Specific upgrades include new hardware, the biomatrix sensor integrated surface coils, as well as the newest MRI sequences and control software. The only element of the current MRI scanner that will not be upgraded is the core electromagnet, everything else will be removed and replaced with the newest version. The installation will require new rigging (e.g. wire harnesses, pipes for cryogens) to be installed, new cryogens to cool the super conducting elements of the magnet?S core to 4 degrees kelvin, a dimplex chiller to cool the cryogens to the necessary temperature, and finally upgrades to the host computers to provide the necessary computing power to fully support the upgrades to the scanner. The upgrades will be done by siemens (under contract) and supervised by DR. Glenn wylie, director of the ronic.

Expected outcomes

The upgrade to the MRI is anticipated to lead to better data quality and higher working efficiency for the researchers at kessler foundation. Improvements are expected for structural T1 images, structural T2 images, proton density images, diffusion weighted images, and echo-planar images.

Intended beneficiaries

The upgrades will benefit the research community of northern new jersey that relies on the neuroimaging center at kessler foundation, which includes rutgers university, new jersey institute of technology, the east orange VA hospital, and montclair state university among other. The unique nature of this upgraded machine will address issues afflicting the disability community so that such data can be more easily and completely generated. This will allow researchers at kessler foundation and the broader northern new jersey research community to continue to create effective interventions for persons with disabilities.

Subrecipient activities

The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.