EMU: acquisition of a 3 Tesla magnetic resonance equipment for clinical research

• Grant number: 22/11508-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Technology and Innovation
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: July 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Radiology
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Carlos dos Santos
• Grantee: Antonio Carlos dos Santos
• Host Institution: Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da USP (HCMRP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: André Schmidt ; Débora Bevilaqua Grossi ; Dimas Tadeu Covas ; Fabiana Cardoso Pereira Valera ; Francisco José Albuquerque de Paula ; Jaime Eduardo Cecilio Hallak ; Leandro Machado Colli ; Marcel Koenigkam Santos ; Margaret de Castro ; Marisa Marcia Mussi ; Paulo Louzada Junior ; Paulo Mazzoncini de Azevedo Marques ; Rodrigo do Tocantins Calado de Saloma Rodrigues ; Svetoslav Nanev Slavov

Abstract

Acquisition of a 3 Tesla MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), for human studies, and clinical applications. This equipment will be an EMU (Equipment Multi User) to enhance the ongoing projects that support this proposal (two CEPID, five thematic projects and three projects by Young Researchers), in the spirit of this announcement. The equipment needs to be at the frontier of available technology, capable of executing all protocols proposed for clinical research, from the simplest to the most advanced, including structural and functional imaging, multinuclear spectroscopy, at least protons and phosphorus, advanced high resolution diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), different perfusion methods, such as dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC), dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE), and arterial spin labeling (ASL), magnetic susceptibility imaging (SWI), vessel wall studies, different MR angiography methods, solid state MRI with ultra-short T1 and T2 sequences, elastography, DIXON technique, etc. The HCRP-FMRP-USP, the host institution for this equipment, has a team with high technical qualifications to install and maintain this equipment in operation. It has a history of highly relevant research and has been operating an MR Section for 25 years. In this Section is currently installed a 3T equipment acquired by FAPESP in 2005 (project CInAPCe FAPESP Nº 2005-56447-7), installed in 2008, still in operation, but with "end-of-life" declared by the selling company. This equipment is outdated, with frequent technical failures and needs replacement. The bore diameter of this magnet is 60cm, configured to head and CNS studies, with limited capacity to efficiently perform exams in other regions of the body. This project requests a new 3T MRI device, at the limit of the state of the art for the method, for studies of oncology, epilepsy and other neurological, psychiatric, cardiological, abdomen, pelvis, limbs, breast and vascular diseases. This is a proposal that counts with the involvement and broad support of the institution, which is committed to the construction of the building where the device will be installed, with the hiring of employees for management, operation, cleaning and security, with the supply of all the material consumption, with the cost of maintenance contract, hiring doctors, IT employees, and other specialties that may be necessary. This proposal includes all the accessories necessary for the successful completion of the aforementioned projects, including an auxiliary workstation with advanced software packages for neuroradiology, cardiology, abdominal imaging and other regions. It includes accessories for functional imaging (BOLD MRI), such as programming system, synchronization, patient communication, projector, etc. It includes data recording and archiving modules, as well as servers for storing and backing up images from the different projects, communication system with PACS, RIS and remote access by the manufacturing company. (AU)