MGH-MRI Research Platform - Services - Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

Montreal General Hospital MRI Research Platform

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a tool for non-invasive study of markers of health and disease, using advanced imaging of organs and the musculoskeletal system.

The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) is home to a high-performance, research-grade 3 tesla (3T) MRI, located in the Montreal General Hospital (MGH) MRI Research Platform. Available for pre-clinical and clinical imaging, this user-operated facility supports a wide variety of MRI-related research projects.

Mission
Services
Equipment
Access to equipment and services
Contact information

Mission

MRI is an indispensable tool for neuroscience. The MRI Research Platform at the Montreal General Hospital allows researchers and trainees access to this powerful technology, offering:

1. A state-of-the-art, 3-tesla MRI equipped with custom devices to increase resolution and fidelity.

2. Direct, hands-on training for researchers and trainees, including fundamental principles of MRI and operation of the MRI system.

3. An affordable subscription model, allowing users to acquire data regularly and predictably.

Services

The experienced team at the Montreal General Hospital (MGH) MRI Research Platform can provide:

MRI protocol and study design consultation
Support for MRI data processing and analysis
Controlled visual and auditory stimuli
A variety of response devices to accommodate different experimental designs
Measurement of peripheral physiological data, including respiratory and heart rates, electrocardiogram (ECG) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2)
MRI neuroimaging combined with electroencephalography (EEG) or trans-cranial magnetic brain stimulation (TMS)

Equipment

Located at the Montreal General Hospital (MGH) site of the McGill University Health Centre, the MGH MRI Research Platform offers the following equipment:

MRI System: The Siemens Prisma 3T offers excellence in MRI technology. Learn more

Coils: The platform is equipped with a wide range of Siemens coils. Learn more

Peripheral Equipment: The platform has many different options for peripheral equipment, including a BOLDscreen LCD display, headphones and microphone, physiological recording tools (a wireless ECG device, pulse sensor, respiratory belt and pulse oximeter), a binocular eye-tracking system, as well as systems for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalograms. Learn more

Analysis tools: Stimulus iMac, analysis PC, and more: Tools are available for visual stimuli, data acquisition and data analysis. Contact the MRI team for more information.

Access to equipment and services

Researchers from any Canadian university can become subscribers. Clinical trials are also welcome. Contact the MRI team for more information about access to the MGH-MRI Research Platform.

Reserving time in the MRI Platform

The two classes of access to the MGH-MRI Research Platform are both included in a subscription:

Class A time slots: High priority hours. These guaranteed time slots can be booked well in advance.
Class B time slots: Low priority hours. These time slots may be scheduled only within 6 days of scanning time.
Reserve a time slot on the MRI Platform.

Subscriptions for MRI use

There are four options for use of the MGH-MRI Research Platform:

Gold subscription: 4 hours per week of Class A time slots and unlimited class B time slots. Additional Class A time slots can be purchased at a discounted price.
Silver subscription: 2 hours per week of Class A time slots and 5 hours per week of Class B time slots. Additional Class A time slots can be purchased at a discounted price.
Bronze subscription: 1 hour per week of Class A time slots and 1 hour per week of Class B time slots. Additional Class A time slots can be purchased at a discounted price.
Pay per use: Class A time slots, invoiced per hour.

Consultation: 10 hours of expert consultation are provided annually with each subscription. Additional hours may be purchased. Additionally, the services of an experienced MR technologist are available on an hourly basis. The MR technologist can work to researchers’ specifications, providing consistent data collection and expert care to clinical trial participants.

Pricing: MGH-MRI Research Platform Subscriptions

Policies: MGH-MRI Research Platform Policies