This page explains the criteria that USC-affiliated Principal Investigators (PI) must satisfy prior to conducting and scheduling MRI scans at the Center for Image Acquisition (CIA) resources. The CIA policies described below do not supersede established University polices and procedures developed by the IRB and IACUC.
New to the CIA? Create an Account
If you already have an INI account, with a personnel data sheet previously on file, please email cia@ini.usc.edu and request CIA site and Scheduler access. To set up an account with the Center for Image Acquisition that will allow you to schedule a scan, please complete the online form including:
- Project Name
- Proposal number
- PI Name and any additional people you want to have access to your study (note: each additional person will have to complete the Personnel Data Sheet to obtain an account)
- Start date: anticipated date of first scan (can be an estimate)
- Attach a copy of your approved IRB
- Attach a copy of your project budget showing scan costs budgeted
For more information about scheduling, see the full policy below.
Users
All investigators must complete and submit an application to CIA Administration to review the proposed work. Once approved, investigators will be given an authorized user account to reserve scan times to The Scheduler. Each account must be linked to a verified recharge account for billing. Lastly, all investigators must have IRB approval for study prior to scheduling and conducting scans.
Eligible Users
Principal Investigator (PI), defined as a USC-affiliated scientist or clinician with faculty rank of “researcher” or above. Post-doctoral fellows, medical fellows, graduate students, undergraduate students and staff cannot serve as a PI for a CIA project but may be listed collaboratively with a PI on the application and project.
Study Protocol
Investigators must submit a set of documents related to the conduct of an experiment with humans, experimental animals, or materials. Investigators must submit an application to the CIA for approval in addition to obtaining approval from the IRB or IACUC, as appropriate. To expedite review, application to the CIA and IRB can be made in tandem. All paperwork being submitted to the CIA should be submitted in electronic form (preferably in PDF format) to: cia@ini.usc.edu
Training Requirements
This section provides a general overview of the necessary training requirements that must be completed prior to scheduling scans. See the CIA Training Policy for full details. All individuals seeking access to the MRI facility to perform research or for educational activities must complete MRI safety training appropriate to their role in the work.
- Human Subjects Training. All researchers having a protocol that involves human subjects are required to have completed the training for research with human subjects.
- Experimental Animal Training. All researchers having a protocol that involves experimental animals are required to complete all necessary training for the proper use of experimental animals.
- Emergency Procedures Training. For all protocols involving human subjects, at least one researcher must be present during each MRI data acquisition session that has completed CIA safety and emergency procedures training.
Scheduling Etiquette
All investigators are encouraged to schedule scans as needed. It is recommended that scans are scheduled in advance and that a single user does not reserve more than 10 slots at any given time. Note the cancellation policy described below. Special requests for advanced scheduling / set scan times may be requested and will be reviewed by CIA administration. Possible requests involve anticipated future scans for longitudinal, clinical trial studies with a set time interval for pre/post scans. The policy for scheduling etiquette is subject to change based on use and demand.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations by investigators at least 24 hours in advance will not be charged. Cancellations within 24 hours of the scheduled scan will be charged a fee of 25% of the scan cost. This includes, but is not limited to, cancellations due to participant no-show, scheduling error, illness, and traffic/transportation issues. Cancellations required by CIA or scanner malfunction will not be charged. Excessive cancellations of more than 5 cancellations within any 30-day period may result in limited scheduling access for the user.
Questions or concerns about billing for scans or cancellations should be directed to the CIA facility manager.
Clinical scans
Clinical scans may be scheduled at the CIA. Clinical scans will follow the same scheduling and cancellation policies as research scans. Like research scans, clinical scans will not be allowed to exceed scheduled time slot. Clinical scans may be reserved up to 3 months in advance and no investigator/clinical/radiologist/medical group may reserve more than 10 slots at any given time.
Maintenance days
Siemens will conduct scanner maintenance on-site as needed, which will be reflected on the Scheduler.
Phantom scans/Quality Assurance
CIA staff will regularly conduct water phantom scans for calibration. Any aberrations in the phantom scans will be reviewed with the CIA physicist and reported to Siemens if necessary.
Please note that the below prices are listed for the Siemens 3T scanner / Siemens 7T scanner, respectively.
Research Scans
Peak Hours - $600 (3T) / $700 (7T)
Peak hours are 7am – 7pm daily excluding official University holidays. An MRI Technologist will be present 8 hours per day, with availability indicated on The Scheduler.
Off-Peak Hours - $500 (3T) / $600 (7T)
Off-peak hours are before 7am or after 7pm, or holidays. An MRI technologist will not be present during these hours. Investigators who wish to scan during off-peak hours or when the MRI technologist is not present must complete all required User and Safety training.
Pilot Scans
Pilot scans may be needed to collect pilot data for grant or funding applications [See also Pilot Scanning.]. PIs may apply for and receive up to 10 hours for pilot scanning per project at no charge (scheduling limitations may apply). Applications for pilot scans should include a 1-2 page proposal including the specific aims of the project, proposed funding source and submission date, and specific protocols being used. Applications will be reviewed by the MRI committee on a rolling basis. Each PI may receive no more than 1 pilot project scan per year.
Additional hours for piloting may be purchased through normal rates.
By utilizing the Pilot Scans program offered at the CIA, the investigator agrees to conduct MRI scans at the CIA for all future grants that result from pilot scans from the CIA for the respective project.
Last Minute Scans
Any hours that are unclaimed up to 6 hours prior can be booked at 50% off. These hours must be booked via the online scheduler to avoid scheduling conflicts.
Cancellation Policies
All cancellations must be made 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Cancellations less than 24 hours in advance will be charged a fee of 25% of the scan cost.
CIA MRI Committees
As the MRI review committees are comprised of volunteers, committee members will receive an additional 10 hours of pilot/development scans (scheduling limitations may apply; see Scheduling) during each year that they serve on the committee.
Course/Instructional Time
Courses instructing students on fMRI methods, and/or MRI user orientations and trainings, may be conducted on the scanner. The PI, instructor, or MRI technologist should apply for time on the scanner using the Scheduler, which will be approved by the MRI committee.
Quality Assurance
Daily QA will be performed by the MRI technologist or a member of the MRI physics group. This cost is built into the scanner maintenance costs.
Data Maintenance
Data will be maintained per the Data Policies described in the Data Agreement and in the Data documentation on the CIA web site. Raw data will be maintained on the CIA Server for 2 weeks at no cost, but is not guaranteed after 2 weeks.