The promise of plans for the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and
Behavior has been concretizing as a result of several exciting developments
over the past few months. In late August, we welcomed the delivery and installation
of the 16 ton magnet with croissants & champagne (watch this space for photos).
Subsequently, the front end and electronics of the General Electric 3T Signa VH/I MR
system have been added, and the magnetic field strength brought up to 3 tesla. The
initial scans look wonderful! The current configuration features a state-of-the-art
body gradient system, and will be appreciably upgraded with a prototype head-only
gradient system in the Spring of 2001. The waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior
will be operational by February 15, 2001. Prior to this time, computer work stations and networking are being
installed and the positron emission tomography (PET) scanner is being moved from its
current location to the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior. A tandem accelerator for the production of short-half life
tracers for PET is already installed and is currently being calibrated. Other components
of the Waisman Laboraty for Brain Imaging and Behavior include radiochemistry laboratories for the production of PET
radiotracers; an fMRI simulator room with a mock scanner for acclimating subjects
to the neuroimaging environment and familiarizing them with behavioral procedures;
an electrophysiological testing laboratory with a 256 channel system for brain
electrical activity recording; and animal holding facilities for animal studies.
On its way are a high resolution small bore PET scanner for non-human primate
studies and a device for rapid transcranial magnetic stimulation.
On the personnel side, we are delighted to welcome Dr. Andy
Alexander,
who has recently accepted a faculty position in UW's Departments of Medical Physics
and Psychiatry, and who will be Director of MR Physics at the Waisman Laboratory for Brain
Imaging and Behavior.
See the Wisconsin Week article
Image captions:
1. "16 ton magnet, delivered 8/19/00, getting prepared to be lifted and
lowered into it's new home at the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior."
2. "O.k., now, let 'er down nice 'n' slooow..."
3. "Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior director Richie Davidson, Dept. of Psychology, and Andy Roberts,
Dept. of Medical Physics, prepare to celebrate the fruition of alot of hard
work."
4. "Scientists on the scene to welcome Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior's new 3T fMRI system include
(l. to r.): Andy Roberts, Terry Oakes, Richie Davidson, Brad Postle, Paul
Whalen, and Waisman Center director Terry Dolan."
5. "Future neuroimager Drew (Gernsbacher) Goldsmith inspects
the newly-installed magnet."
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