About

Overview

We are a research-dedicated facility with a 3T Siemens MAGNETOM Prisma magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner.

Ours is the only MRI affiliated with FIU that is capable of conducting functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies; thus, we provide a unique resource to FIU researchers. Our current efforts to improve services are focusing on developing facility resources for data quality assurance and pre-processing pipelines. These services will reduce duplication of effort across projects and teams, thereby providing additional shared data resources for investigators to draw upon.

Facility

The MAGNETOM Prisma is a high-performance 3T MRI magnet with benchmark homogeneity of 1.1ppm at 50cm, higher-order shim, large FOV of 50x50x50 cm3, and zero helium boil-off. The MAGNETOM Prisma was designed to deliver outstanding gradient performance, with 80 mT/m at 200 T/m/s simultaneously. The gradient technology includes ultra-high performance cooling, a force-compensated design for reduced vibrations, with a 60-cm bore and excellent long-term stability and minimized acoustic noise.

The MAGNETOM Prisma also includes the Tim 4G integrated coil technology to accommodate a unique 32-channel head/neck coil designed for maximum signal-to-noise ratio. Beyond these hardware features, the MAGNETOM Prisma includes the most innovative software applications that enable trend-setting applications, including SMS (simultaneous multi-slice; i.e., “multiband imaging”) imaging for echo-planar imaging (EPI) (including both functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)) pulse sequences.

The 3,178-square-foot MRI facility is housed in PG-5 on the FIU Modesto Maidique (Main) Campus. The facility was established as a hub for interdisciplinary neuroscience research and student training on campus. The MRI suite encompasses an MRI exam room (529 sq. ft.), MRI control room (122 sq. ft.), participant changing area (154 sq. ft.), and MRI equipment room (213 sq. ft.). Additional facility rooms include an MRI simulator/mock scanner suite (406 sq. ft.), six private rooms for experimental procedures and behavioral assessment (533 sq. ft.), and a reception area (174 sq. ft). The facility was designed to support an integrated community of investigators at the forefront of imaging science, with an emphasis on functional neuroimaging research.

Team

Angela Laird, Director, Center of Imaging Science
Email: alaird@fiu.edu // Phone: 305-348-6737

Robert Laird, CIS Director of Imaging Services and MR Physicist
Email: rlaird@fiu.edu // Phone: 305-348-2605

Jenna Silva-Rosas, Sr. Program Coordinator
Email: jesilva@fiu.edu // Phone: 305-348-2012

Andrea Roman, MR Technologist
Email: anroman@fiu.edu // Phone: 305-348-2089

Raquel Rodriguez, MR Technologist
Email: raqurodr@fiu.edu // Phone: 305-348-2089

Delaney Dockstader, Front Desk Receptionist
Email: ddocksta@fiu.edu // Phone: 305-348-3213

Vianca Rodriguez, Front Desk Receptionist
Email: viarodri@fiu.edu // Phone: 305-348-3213

Katherine Saladrigas, Front Desk Receptionist
Email: ksaladri@fiu.edu // Phone: 305-348-3213