Imaging Centre of Excellence (ICE)

Expertise in 7T MR Physics and Image Analysis is available to ICE users through the centre's core scientific support team. These staff members will advise on planning and designing new projects on the 7T scanner and will support early-stage projects through the processes of protocol development and/or pilot data collection. In addition, they can contribute to 7T MRI grant proposals by joining the study team in a co-investigator role. It is approriate to acknowledge ICE core support scientists with co-authorship on publications when they have contributed more than routine techniques to the acquisition and analysis of imaging data.

Within the ICE building, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde have responsibility for matters of MRI safety. Local oversight of the development and implementation of 7T MRI safety processes is overseen by the ICE MRI Safety Committee which reports to, and works under the governance of, the NHS GG&C MRI Safety Committee.

For all MR imaging studies at ICE, the Principal Investigator is responsible for nominating members of the research team to be granted entitlement for receiving the safety training required to access the MR Controlled Area. Researchers with appropriate entitlement will then undergo a training package to be granted authorisation for working in the MR environment. Researchers with appropriate authorisation must complete additional training and competency assessment to operate the scanner and/or supervise others in the MR environment.

• MR Responsible Person for ICE: Mrs Tracey Hopkins, Lead Research Radiographer
• MR Safety Expert for ICE: Dr John Foster, Head of NHS GG&C MRI Physics Group

Ethical review is required for all human research studies on the 7T MRI scanner at ICE.

• Locally led applications for non-clinical imaging research (healthy volunteer studies) should be submitted to the MVLS College Ethics Committee.
• Locally led applications for clinical imaging research with NHS patients should be submitted to the West of Scotland Research Ethics Service.

Costing for 7T MRI scans in grant bids is administered through the MVLS Shared Research Facilities. For a formal quote, contact mvls-srf@glasgow.ac.uk.

Grant applicants are encouraged to contact the ICE core scientific support team at the earliest opportunity for advice on:

• 7T protocol design, data management and analysis
• use of locally developed RF coils
• project contributions from MR Physics and/or RF Engineering teams

Locally led MR research projects that have undergone ethical review but require sponsored scanning hours can register to request access to the 7T scanner at ICE.

Sponsored scanning hours can be requested for the following purposes:

• Pilot data collection to support a grant application
• Supplementary data collection for a part-funded project
• Preparatory data collection for a funded project

Priority for allocation of sponsored scanning hours is given to projects falling under the four main themes of ICE scientific research strengths.

Research often involves new MR imaging techniques, and optimisation of these techniques is essential before they can be successfully applied in clinical studies.

The Clinical Research Imaging Facility (CRIF) Approval Group, set up jointly by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and the University of Glasgow, is responsible for reviewing and approving requests for access to the 7T scanner at ICE for technical development and proof of principle MR research projects.

Applications submitted to the CRIF Approval Group for 7T protocol development and optimisation can receive ethical review under delegated authority from the main REC. The group also maintains a databank of healthy volunteers who can be contacted when an optimisation project is taking place.

Information on the CRIF Approval Group application process can be accessed via the following link: https://www.nhsggc.scot/staff-recruitment/staff-resources/research-and-innovation/research-imaging/