The Joint Imaging Core

The goal of the Joint Imaging (JI) Core is to provide MARC members with access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of human and animal joints.
 
The Core offers imaging services that include human subject magnetic resonance (MR) scanning, small animal MR scanning, coil development, multi-nuclear coil development, and other specialized imaging protocols. Beyond the scanners, the JI Core staff will be available to assist with the entire process, including experimental design and execution, data analysis/post-processing, and data interpretation.
 
Equipment
Human Imagers
Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute (ACTRI)
-Clinical 3.0T GE Discovery MR 750 imagers
-16 FR channels
-Body phased array coils
-Autocalibrating reconstruction for cartesian parallel imaging
-Ultrashort time-to-echo 3D cones sequence
-Zero echo time sequence
 
Center for Translational Imaging and Precision Medicine (CTIPM)
-Clinical 3.0T GE Discovery MR 750 imagers
-16 FR channels
-Body phased array coils
-Autocalibrating reconstruction for cartesian parallel imaging
-Ultrashort time-to-echo 3D cones sequencing
-Zero echo time sequencing
 
The Keck Center for Functional MR Imaging (CFMRI)
-Clinical 3.0T GE Discovery MR 750 imagers
-16 FR channels
-Body phased array coils
-Autocalibrating reconstruction for cartesian parallel imaging
-Ultrashort time-to-echo 3D cones sequencing
-Zero echo time sequencing
-One imager has multi-nuclear capabilities
 
Animal Imagers
Moores Cancer Center (MCC)
-MRSolutions 4000 MRS Preclinical MR
-Small bore, high field animal scanner
-Field strengths of up to 4.7T
-Equipped with anesthesia and monitoring systems
 
Keck CFMRI
-7T animal scanner
-Bruker 7T magnet
-Avance II hardware  
-Multi-nuclear capabilities for both proton and phosphorus spectroscopy
-Multiple radiofrequency coils available for a variety of animals
-Cardiac, respiratory, and temperature monitoring systems
 
Services
Consultation
Senior faculty consult
Project scientist consult
 
Human subject MR scanning
CTIPM @ ACTRI, ROPCC or Keck
-Technologist-assisted scanning
-Contrast injection
CFMRI @ Keck
-Operator-assisted scanning
 
Small Animal MR Scanning
CFMRI @ Keck (7T Varian)
-Operator-assisted scanning
MCC (4.7T MRSolutions)
-Operator-assisted scanning
 
MR Engineering
MR compatible devices produced/procured by JI Core
-Design
-Fabrication
-Usage fee on existing devices
MR coils devices produced/procured by JI Core
-Design
-Fabrication
-Usage fee on existing devices
 
MR Post-Processing
-Clinical readout by radiologist
-Image hosting & online access
-Dicom extraction, organization and format conversion
-Manual 3D segmentation & rendering
-Bone 3D segmentation & rendering
-T1, T2, T2*, T1rho, MTR color map
-T2* biocomponent color map
-MR spectroscopy analysis
-DTI map and connectivity rendering
Core Leadership & Contacts
Christine Chung, MD, Core Co-Director
Won Bae, PhD, Core Co-Director
 
Sheronda Statum, Core Manager
marcjicore@health.ucsd.edu 
 
Alisa Prewett, MARC Coordinator
marcadmin@health.ucsd.edu
 
Other Resource Cores
·      Joint Bioinformatics and Computational Core
·      Joint Cell Isolation Core