Services & booking
Services
The Core Facility holds a GE Signa Premier 3.0T MRI scanner, 70 cm bore. The scanner is equipped with several head coils, including 48ch and 32ch coils.
The GE SIGNA Premier 3.0T MR is an advanced MRI system incorporating new coils and gradient technology, which will allow us to provide service to users with state-of-the-art scanning equipment. The scanner comes with AIR technology coils, which have an industry-leading flexible design. A new feature from 2024 is AIR Recon DL,
a post reconstruction algorithm that removes noise and ringing artifacts based on deep learning. This feature can enable shorter scan times and at the same time increasing the signal-to-noise ratio.
The CF provides a standardized research protocol for human brain research and brain diseases. This enables data exchange and shared control groups, across projects.
The Core Facility provides integrated experimental equipment such as an MR-compatible EEG-system (Clinilab Oy) and a setup for fMRI experiments for visual and auditory stimuli as well as response devices. We perform quality assurance of the MRI data routinely and follow up all projects continuously.
In addition to neuro imaging, we can offer:
- Whole body MRI with use of a 32-channel body array coil with AIR technology. This provide unique opportunities for brain – body interaction research
- Premium knee coil, in combination of AIR Recon DL produces superior images in reasonable scan times
The Core Facility has an ongoing research agreement with GE, which secures access to new research packages (e.g. ABCD protocol, eASL and 3DPROMOv2) in early test versions before it becomes generally available. In the list of research sequences, we can also offer a third party sequence: Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) with build-in reconstruction on the scanner. This is of great value for the research projects at the CF.
We provide a designated PC for running fMRI paradigms with upgraded software;
E-Prime2 (Psychology Software Tools), Matlab and nordicAktiva (NordicNeuroLab). These tools contain a comprehensive library of paradigms for use in clinical research and gives us the possibility to customize paradigms for each project.
The Core Facility will give advice about design and methods provide access to scanner and can contribute with data analysis after specific agreements. The Core Facility provides a room for interviews and neuropsychological testing etc.
We can also offer the latest version of NeuroQuant and NeuroQuant MS (cortechs.ai) for quantitative MRI measurement, which automatically segments and measures volumes of brain structures and lesions and compares these volumes to a normal population.
Prices will vary with complexity and time for each project. We either charge a fee for each scan, usually short-term project, but for most long-term projects, we negotiate a price depending on the needs of each project (The hourly fee starting from 2500 NOK).
Booking
The Core Facility discuss new research project or pilot studies in the management group, and coordinates timeslots. Both the patient system of the hospital (RIS/PACS) and an online calendar are used to find available timeslots for the projects. Each project is allocated a number of hours per week. Projects are teamed-up with neuroradiologist for clinical evaluation and ascertain the incidental findings are recognized and handled.
If you want to start a research project at the Core Facility or have any questions, please contact: Frode A. Tuvnes (leader and research coordinator): frotuv@ous-hf.no