Research Proposals

To: Departments, Institutes, and Centers Chairs and Directors

From: Zahi A. Fayad, Ph.D., Director, Imaging Sciences Laboratories
Valentin Fuster, M.D., PhD, Director, Cardiovascular Institute
Burton Drayer, M.D., Chairman, Department of Radiology

Subject: Imaging Research Opportunities at Mount Sinai

We currently have 2 MRI systems for imaging research applications at Mount Sinai. One system is a 1.5T Siemens Sonata whole-body system and the other is a 3.0T Siemens Allegra head-only system specially equipped to perform functional brain imaging and general high-resolution imaging. Both are located in a new facility, the Advanced MRI Suite (AMRIS), near the clinical MRI suite in Radiology Associates. There is also since January 2000, a small-bore 9.4T (89 mm bore) Bruker MRI system, located in the Imaging Science Laboratories (ISL), for MR Microscopic Imaging of mice or small tissue specimens.

Please note that the General Electric (GE) MR systems are now dedicated for clinical use only. Only projects that had special arrangements with ISL will be finished or continued on the GE systems.

Additionally, a multi-row detector computed tomography (CT) scanner is also available for imaging studies as part of the Sharp Early Detection facility.

The Imaging Science Laboratory’s mission is to create, develop and apply a variety of innovative and advanced imaging technologies toward a more comprehensive understanding of and better care of the human body. ISL is responsible for coordinating and executing all research projects performed on these scanners.

Interested parties who would like to do any MRI or CT related research projects in these facilities, and requiring ISL staff support should contact ISL first to discuss feasibility, timing and logistics. We will be able to assist you with planning your experiments as well as carrying them out. It is important that researchers establish direct contact with ISL so that we can inform you of possible future system changes that may affect your experiment.

New research using the ISL facilities (research MR, and CT systems and associated labs) is initiated with a research proposal. New projects may be funded, or the goal of the project may be to collect pilot data for a grant application. All proposals are reviewed and approved by the Research Management Committee (RMC) and scheduled by the ISL based on:

• Scientific merit
• Feasibility of the research on existing equipment
• Availability of equipment
• Budget review and ability of the investigator to support the user fees

Approved proposals will be assigned scanner time based on availability. Continued scanner time will be predicated on progress of work and ability to secure funding.

Once we determine that your research project is feasible, and if funding is not available for your human subjects research study, you can request support for pilot data through the GCRC imaging core.

IRB and IACUC Approvals

All research to be conducted must be approved by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Institutional Review Board and/or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approvals.

Contacts

All forms should be submitted to ISL BM-24 Atran MC Level c/o Sybil Price.

To discuss feasibility of your imaging research interests and for additional information please contact:

Cardiovascular and Body Related Applications

Zahi Fayad, Ph.D.
Director Imaging Science Laboratories
Director Cardiovascular Imaging Research
E-mail: zahi.fayad@mssm.edu
Tel: (212) 241-6858

Brain Related Applications

Cheuk Ying Tang, Ph.D.

Director Neuro- Imaging Research
E-mail: cheuk.tang@mssm.edu
Tel: (212) 241-7255

Thomas Naidich, M.D.

Director, Neuroradiology
Vice-Chairman, Academics (Department of Radiology)
E-mail: thomas.naidich@mssm.edu
Tel: (212) 241-3423
Pager: (917) 401-1824

ISL Imaging or Other Radiology Request Forms

Lena Marra
Director of Research
E-mail: lena.marra@mssm.edu
Tel: (212) 241-9369

General ISL Inquiries and Scheduling

Sybil Price
ISL, Administrative Manager
E-mail: sybil.price@mountsinai.org
Tel: (212) 241-6858
Fax: (212) 534-2683

General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) Inquiries

GCRC, Administrator
Tel: (212) 241-6045

Materials for Submission

1. Imaging Research Request Form
2. Grant and Contract Office (GCO) application: including IRB and/or IACUC approvals. If this is a human study you must provide the “stamped” (with valid dates) consent forms.

Notes

• Funded research has priority provided there are sufficient resources (Machine time & staff).
• For unfunded projects, please consult with one of the team members and then submit the completed application forms.
• Independent of funding, you must provide IRB/IACUC approval for the project.
• After your project is approved, please allow at least 2 weeks to schedule any subjects.
• Research time is scarce and should be planned carefully.
• In the same way that we try to adhere to the schedule that we promised you, please be do the same and bring your subjects on time and have all consent paperwork done in advance.
• Technical support for running the scanners is only provided during regular weekday hours (7:30 am – 3:30 pm).

Education, Lecture Series and Seminars

The research team at ISL offers lectures and seminars to the general research community. Currently there are four kinds of educational courses offered:

• Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute Seminar: These are lectures on special MR topics given by prominent scientists from other institutions. Learn More
• MR Physics (The Series): Depending on demand,this is a monthly one hour lecture covering the basic physics of MRI through special topics such as fMRI and cardiac imaging. This is an annual series and consists of 11 lectures. Contact Cheuk Tang, Ph.D., for the schedule.