2024-04-29 MRRC Spring Update and Welcome to Our Newest Tech Scott

April 29, 2024


Hi All,

1. Welcome our newest MR Tech Scott Cooper

We are very pleased to announce a new full-time member of the MRI technologist team. Scott Cooper joined the center today. Scott has 23 years of technologist experience and an excellent safety record. Please say hello to Scott the next time you are visiting the center for a scan session.


2. Please cite the MRRC in your publications

Research Resource Identifiers (RRIDs) are persistent and unique identifiers for research resources such as core facilities, organisms, tools, etc. More information can be found on this website: https://www.rrids.org/. The MRRC has acquired RRID:SCR_025215. Going forward, please use this RRID to cite the center in all publications describing work that uses data collected at the MRRC. Be sure to check your journal’s style guide and author recommendations for proper use of RRIDs. Example in-text citation:

"The imaging session was conducted at the University of Pittsburgh’s Magnetic Resonance Research Center (RRID:SCR_025215)."


3. Recommendations regarding cosmetic products for highest data quality

Based on the request of several users and tips we received from our faculty physicists, technologists, and other imaging centers, we created the attached document containing recommendations to participants for the day of scanning. Many of these recommendations are focused on reducing the rare occurrence of brain imaging artifacts that can be induced by specific cosmetic products such as sunscreen and dry shampoo. Use this form in your prescreening and participant onboarding practices as you see fit. Please note, these recommendations should be considered an optional addition to the mandatory safety prescreening you should always be doing for MRI contraindications (e.g., for pacemakers, other implanted devices, shrapnel not cleared by an X-ray, etc.).


4. Construction alerts regarding installation of new 7T

The 8th floor facility in UPMC Presbyterian is undergoing rapid change related to the decommissioning of the mMR scanner and installation of a new 7T scanner. The following is a list of changes in effect right now:
    • The break room is temporarily closed.
    • The conference room is temporarily closed for use as a conference or testing room. The conference room is the new break room and temporary home of the water cooler, microwave, and refrigerator.
    • The Sedation/Recovery room (B812) will be temporarily closed at a TBD date. Room B806 (“NIRS/EEG Lab”) has had new hard surface flooring installed to be DOH compliant while it temporarily serves as the sedation/recovery area for studies that need a hospital-style room. Going forward, studies should use the “Brain Vision” column on the scheduler to reserve the brain vision cart and the “B812” column to reserve the sedation/recovery area.
    • Offices have been temporarily moved to the following locations:
        • Andrew: B822
        • Dr. Kim: B864.2
        • Dr. Schirda: B800
        • Steve Hegedus: B864.1
These changes will be in place until at least late 2024.

As always, please reach out if you have any questions.

Best regards,
Andrew Reineberg