This Core of this Program Project is centered in the Administrative structure of the Biophysics Research Institute of the Medical College of Wisconsin, which has been expanded to meet the additional responsibilities of the Program Project. The organizational philosophy is that of """"""""participative management"""""""" because of the interdisciplinary nature of the program. Input from all involved disciplines is necessary in order to make correct decisions.
The Specific Aims of the Core fall into two categories: administration, which includes scientific meetings, training, and various administrative services; and scanner operation, which includes assurance of overall performance of the MRI scanners, assurance of health and safety of human subjects, compliance with vertebrate animal protocols, management of the MCW fMRI database, and engineering efforts to optimize scanner performance. Administration and scanner operation procedures established during the first funding period are judged to be soundly based and working well, and with minor adjustment will be continued substantially without change during the next funding period. In particular, the Project and CORE Leaders Committee will continue to meet weekly for administrative purposes, and the Works-in- Progress seminar series to discuss scientific progress will also continue on a weekly basis. The MCW fMRI team introduced local gradient coil technology for fMRI in 1992 and now has more than 5 years of experience using it. This technology involves optimization of gradient and rf coil design specifically for the human brain. The technology has spread to about a dozen other institutions. A new Specific Aim for the Administrative Core is to coordinate local coil methodologies and developmental efforts for all Cores, Projects, and other grants in order to support and advance the use of this technology, since we are convinced that it is the optimum technology approach to fMRI of the human brain. The Administrative Core is not only concerned with the Program Project, but also has long-term objectives that can have a substantial impact on human health. These include: (1) playing a leadership role at a national level in fMRI meetings and workshops, (2) developing strategies for preliminary studies on patients; and (3) working toward the development of a national center of excellence in fMRI at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
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