Lab Access

Bookings

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All investigators are required to submit a study initiation form before scanning time can be booked. This form requires a brief description of the project, a detailed MR/MEG protocol, details on funding and ethics approval. Scans may only be acquired for projects that have obtained ethics approval. The participant consent form must be submitted along with the study initiation form.  ImageTech staff are available to help investigators design their experimental protocol and can provide standard wording and processes for consent and incidental findings. Once the study initiation form has been approved by the SFU ImageTech Lab Protocol Review Committee, the investigator(s) will be able to start booking MR scan time.

Study initiation form (.pdf)

Steps to initiate a research study

Apply for a study

1. Contact ImageTech to discuss the feasibility of conducting your study, and study protocols available to you 
2. Apply for ethics approval. It is recommended that you include the text for the contraindications to MRI as written below into your consent forms. A copy of the MRI Incidental Finding chart can be provided.
3. Submit a study initiation form and a copy of the subject consent form to the ImageTech Lab Director of Operations, Junaid Lalani. This step can be performed while ethics approval is still pending.

Next steps

• You will be contacted once the study is approved or if further information is required by the Protocol Review Committee
• After study approval, a rate agreement will be sent. Your study may only start after this agreement has been signed and returned.
• When ethics approval is obtained, and protocols are approved, the study may begin. 
• You and/or your designates (anyone scheduling and/or accompanying subjects to the lab) must undergo a safety and facility orientation.
• You must contact the ImageTech Lab Director of Operations, Junaid Lalani, who will set up your study, arrange safety orientations and put you in touch with the corresponding Imaging Leads. Study investigators can then arrange appointment bookings with the Imaging Leads based on availability.
• ImageTech Lab operates on a cost-recovery basis. For current fee rates and cancellation policy, see fee schedule
• Before making a booking, please make sure you fill out the pre-screening form
• In order to book your study, you will need to register for SFU Calpendo 
  • Your study, study initiation form and ethics must have approval before you can register for SFU Calpendo
• To register for SFU Calpendo, go to: https://sfu-imagetech.calpendo.com
  • Click on "Register new user"
  • Create a local account or authenticate by clicking "SFU SSO" if you have an SFU affiliation 
• Once registration is complete, ImageTech will review your request. Upon approval, you will receive a link by email to access SFU Calpendo.
• The rest of the booking process is described on the SFU Calpendo home page.
  

Ethics applications: Wording for contraindications 

It is recommended that you insert the following text to your consent forms.

Exclusions

You cannot participate if you have any of the following:

• Retained wires from an electronic implant that has been removed (i.e. pacemaker wires not attached to a pacemaker)
• Cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator
• Metal in eye or orbit
• Ferromagnetic aneurysm clip
• Pregnancy
• Makeup tattoos that are not designed to fade over time
• Stainless steel intrauterine device (IUD)

Depending on the individual situation, you may not be able to participate if you have/had any of the following:

• Artificial heart valve
• Ear or eye implant
• Brain aneurysm clip
• Implanted electronic device (i.e. drug infusion pump, electrical stimulator)
• Coil, catheter, or filter in any blood vessel
• Orthopedic hardware (artificial joint, plate, screw, rod)
• Shrapnel, bullets, or other metal fragments
• Surgery, medical procedure or tattoos (including tattooed eyeliner) in the last six weeks
• Other metallic prostheses

If you have any of the above, or if there are possible safety issues that arise during the MRI screening process, your individual case will be reviewed by the ImageTech Lab MR Technologist and/or Radiologist.  A decision will be made regarding your participation in the study. In many cases, an operative report may be required to assess the nature of the implants in your body.

Fee Schedule

MRI