Facility Users

Project Review & Approval

New MRI projects will be reviewed by the CIS Steering committee. All users must have IRB approval for research projects and must be able to provide an account number for billing purposes (e.g., internal or external grant or other funding mechanism). All projects should include at least one researcher with experience in MRI research experiments who will be responsible for the development, design, and execution of MR imaging acquisition and analysis procedures.
To initiate a new MRI project at the CIS, the PI shall email the Director, Angela Laird, for a preliminary discussion of the project requirements and address any questions or concerns regarding equipment, personnel, or available scan times. Following that discussion, the PI will complete an MRI Project Request Form and submit the project to be reviewed by the CIS Steering Committee. Review criteria will include, in part: securing of IRB approval, feasibility of protocol with the imaging facility, and availability of magnet time.

Angie Laird with patient in MRI

Facility Policies

Our policies and procedures were developed to be consistent with the internationally accepted recommendations from the American College of Radiology. Violations of these policies and procedures will result in a review of the incident or event with the CIS Steering committee, the Principal Investigator, and the responsible individual. Depending on the nature of the violations, the Office of Research Integrity may require an inquiry or investigation. Using MRI systems for research studies requires the adherence to prescribed procedures so that the working environment remains safe. This includes the safe handling of human subjects, personnel, and equipment. Click below for more details.

  • The CIS MRI Facility is a research facility, providing no clinical services, and is not part of a covered entity. Thus, while not required to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the MRI Facility still safeguards participant privacy. However, some research studies at FIU utilize Protected Health Information (PHI) from covered entities. These studies are conducted in a manner that respects human subjects’ privacy in accordance with the Privacy Rule promulgated under HIPAA and other applicable laws.
  • Structural MRI scans are among the imaging technologies used in research at the CIS. MRI scans undertaken for research purposes are not intended for use as diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The CIS does not have medical or radiological staff that interprets MRI scans, thus no information regarding normal or abnormal findings will be routinely provided by CIS staff to research subjects or their physicians. There is no national requirement to have every research scan read by an outside radiologist. However, in recognition of the fact that, on occasion, incidental findings may need to be investigated medically, and in a best-faith effort to inform research participants of that possibility, the policy of the CIS is to have all structural scans of research subjects reviewed by a radiologist. If investigators would like to request an exception to this requirement for participants with diagnosed brain damage, this can be requested in the IRB protocol application.
  • All FIU investigators conducting human subjects research who plan to use the CIS MRI Facility must obtain FIU IRB approval (except for cases where an agreement allows for FIU to defer approval to an external IRB). All external non-FIU investigators conducting human subjects (for studies in which FIU is not engaged in conducting the research and FIU is not a source for recruitment) are required to obtain IRB approval from their own institution. More information is outlined here: IRB SOP for MRI Research.
  • If any incidents occur within the MRI Scanner Room, regardless of severity, they must be reported to the MR Physicist as soon as possible. The researcher supervising the experiment and the Level 3 Operator will complete an Incident and Adverse Events Report under the supervision of the MR Physicist. All incidents and adverse events that involve human subject participants must also be reported separately to the IRB per the requirements outlined here: IRB Adverse Event Reporting.
  • No contrast agents will be used in scans conducted at the CIS MRI Facility.
  • Pediatric studies that involve the use of sedation during MRI scans will not be permitted at the CIS MRI Facility.
  • All new equipment used for research MR studies must be tested for MR safety and compatibility BEFORE entering the fringe field (see static magnetic field) by the MR Physicist. MR researchers must never take equipment into the magnet room without prior approval from the CIS.
  • It is the responsibility of every researcher to IMMEDIATELY report any equipment failure to the MR Physicist. This includes broken cables, loose connectors, arcing or sparking of devices, leaking of fluids, and any other malfunction or suspected malfunction.
  • No eating, drinking, or storage of food and beverages is permitted in Zone 4 (the MRI scanner room and equipment room).
  • Participants shall be instructed to wait in the lobby/waiting room of the CIS until they can be escorted to the MRI Suite. A researcher will meet the participant in the lobby to escort them through the building.
  • Participants should be instructed to arrive with sufficient time to allow for the completion of safety screening and to prepare for the scan. The amount of time required may depend upon the conditions of each particular study. If the participant is running late, consideration must be made for any studies scheduled after that participant. Even if it started late, the session must end on time. In some cases, the participant may need to be rescheduled. Researchers are expected to arrive at the facility at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time of a given participant; repeated tardiness may result in a loss of privileges at the CIS.

Safety

The Static Magnetic Field is the main magnetic field of the scanner that is always present once the magnet is ramped up to the designated field strength. This static magnetic field is always on. The most common breaches of MR safety occur due to an object being attracted to the static magnetic field. An individual may be struck, injured or trapped against the magnet by the object. Equipment may be damaged by slamming into the magnet or being struck by another object that is accelerating rapidly due to the strong attraction of the magnetic field.

All personnel, including investigators, employees, and students, who work within the MR environment, must be trained and screened for personal safety prior to entering the magnetic field. To work in the magnetic environment, it is mandatory to complete Level 1 training, complete the written safety test, and participate in an annual renewal. This includes all personnel who are conducting or assisting with MR research studies, as well as the researchers who are recruiting, scheduling, and pre-screening participants for their MR sessions.

Safety Trainings

The MRI safety training sessions will be held at 1 pm in the CCF-CIS conference room (PG5 126B). Please send Diamela Arencibia an RSVP if you plan to attend. Please allow 3 hours for the training session, which concludes with a short exam. Attendees must receive a score of 80% to pass the safety training course.

First responders should consult the MRI Safety Training for First Responders guide.

Safety Zones

The open-air PG5 pedestrian walkway outside of the CIS MR facility and the CIS lobby/waiting room. Zone 1 is freely accessible to the general public.

The interface between public area of Zone 1 and the restricted areas of Zones 3 and 4. Zone 2 includes the CIS mock scanner room, behavioral testing rooms, procedure rooms, a restroom, and the hallway connecting these rooms. Zone 2 is located behind controlled access doors. Individuals who have been granted access to the CIS beyond the reception area must escort visitors and volunteers into other areas of Zone 2.

Restricted area. All visitors and volunteers in Zone 3 must be escorted by authorized personnel at all times while in this zone. Zone 3 contains the MR control area and participant changing area. While this Zone is free from risk, persons in Zone 3 have free, physically unrestricted access to Zone 4, an area that does pose risk. Zone 3 is behind controlled access doors.

Contains the 3T MRI magnet room and equipment room. Zone 4 is a potentially hazardous zone where magnetic fields are greater than 5 gauss. All persons entering Zone 4, including researchers, volunteers, and special visitors must fill out and sign appropriate screening forms. Authorized personnel must accompany all volunteers and visitors into Zone 4.