The Center for Image Acquisition (CIA) combines two of the world's most advanced MRI scanners with dedicated supercomputing systems, cutting-edge analysis techniques, and industry-leading expertise to image, map and model the structure and function of the living human brain with unprecedented detail.

As a part of the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute (INI), and located on the campus of the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the CIA provides high-resolution high-field imaging capabilities for both neuroscientific research and clinical applications. The CIA houses specialized tools and equipment enabling a variety of measurements and techniques to be employed for interdisciplinary research and clinical investigation.

Data generated by scans at the CIA is stored and transmitted securely, protecting sensitive patient information. Researchers may elect, with participant consent, to share properly de-identified data through the integrated Image and Data Archive (IDA), a massive repository for imaging data powered by the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI), which is also a part of the INI. The IDA is a global leader in enabling the aggregation and sharing of research data, making possible all sorts of collaborative projects with groups around the world who are able to combine forces, tools, and information to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery.

In 2023, the Stevens INI launched the 7T Translational Alliance of North America. Their mission is to translate the powerful imaging capabilities of 7 Tesla MRI to real-life benefits for patients, healthcare providers, and researchers in North America and worldwide.