BIC offers training to support independent and
assisted research activities
using our resources, for DMS / UTHA clinical staff that will be working in the UT Austin Imaging Center in HDB and for UT / DMS support staff and first responders that assist with Center operations.
Note that the preclinical imaging systems of the BIC are located within the ARC suite in HDB. Appropriate facility training will also be required.
Please direct all training questions to: bic-training@utlists.utexas.edu
Note: Training must be requested using the procedures below. Training requests sent through the FBS system are not checked.
Training Procedures
MRI User Training
Follow the links below to request training as a Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2 MRI User.
MRI User Training Policy and Rationale
(Siemens 3T Prisma & 3T Vida, and Bruker 7T BioSpec systems)
BIC offers 3 levels of user-training
based on the guidelines set forth by the American College of Radiology (ACR):
Level 0 (L0) status grants a researcher observer status for an MRI study and is also required for UT / DMS / UTHA support staff (e.g. ITS, Zone Shop, Facilities)
. L0 trained individuals may not enter the MRI scanner room and cannot assume any responsibilities associated with an MRI study.
Level 1 (L1)
certification is required in order for an individual
to work safely around an MRI system and
observe and/or assist with an MRI study.
L1 training is
required for all staff that provide clinical care or emergency medical / first responder support to the Center’s operations in NHB or HDB
Level 2 (L2)
Level 1 Certification: This course covers basic MRI safety principles, familiarizes the user with the resources of the BIC in either HDB or NHB, and provides hands-on training with key safety features of the MRI scanner that may be required in an emergency.
Level 1 certification requires completion of the following modules:
1) The online UTLearn course BIC-MRI 101A (for our 3T Siemens Skyra system in NHB) or BIC-MRI 101B (for our 3T Siemens Vida system in HDB), which cover MRI Safety Basics. For the 7T Bruker preclinical system either course may be taken.
2) Submit the L1 training form (Biomedical Imaging Center - MRI L1 Training Form) to be logged into our database and request in-person training / orientation. Note that steps 3) and 4) must be completed prior to attending the in-person L1 Safety Training class.
3) For research users:
a) with Human participants:
i) Submit a screenshot of the Contacts tab for your lab's up-to-date IRB protocol indicating that you are associated with your PI for research (a PI or Co-Investigator on the protocol will need to login to the UT Research Management suite). If you have an IRB protocol in progress or pending, or perform research that does not require an IRB protocol (e.g. phantom scanning only) please have your PI contact BIC to confirm you are associated with their group.
ii) Attend the virtual UTLearn class BIC-MRI:102 on proctoring the completion of the MRI Safety Screening form for Research Participants
b) performing Pre-clinical research:
i) Submit your lab's up-to-date IACUC protocol indicating that you are associated with your PI for preclinical research, or
ii) If you have an IACUC protocol in progress or pending, or perform research that does not require an IACUC protocol (e.g. phantom scanning only), please have your PI contact BIC to confirm you are associated with their group.
4) Complete the MRI Safety Screening form for Personnel
5) Attend the in-person L1 Safety Training class on the appropriate system:
BIC-MRI: 103A for the Siemens Skyra system in NHB
BIC-MRI: 103B for the Siemens Vida system in HDB
You will be contacted by BIC concerning the date / time of your in-person class.
Upon successful completion of your L1 training:
6) Submit the BACS access request form for BIC facilities:
Level 1 users will be granted in-hours access to BIC facilities but will not have access to the MRI scanner room(s).
Out of hours access to the appropriate building can also be requested:
NHB: contact the building Facility Manager: Cory Konieczny
HDB: submit a request using the following form: BACS Request.
7) Submit the FBS access request form to obtain scheduling privileges for BIC resources.
The topics you need to understand in order to be L1 certified can be found in the L1 training checklist.
Level 2 Certification: The L2 course includes a more detailed lecture on the principles of MRI, advanced MRI safety and includes training in the operation of the MRI scanner and ancillary equipmentcertification is required in order for an individual to operate the scanner for research purposes. Two properly certified individuals must be present in order to run an MRI study: two L2s or one L2 + one L1.
Level 0 Status (Siemens 3T Prisma and 3T Vida only)
The L0 course reviews essential MRI safety guidelines, sufficient to ensure safe entry into the MRI control and equipment rooms. Level 0 users MAY NOT enter the MRI Scanner Room (Zone 4) under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES unless accompanied by a member of BIC staff or a certified MRI Technologist.
Level 0 researchers MAY NOT assume any L1 or L2 responsibilities (such as safety screening of participants) or enter any zone besides the MRI Control Room (Zone 3); card access to BIC facilities will not be granted. A maximum of two (2) L0 users may be present for participant research studies – Level 2 users overseeing the study are responsible for the conduct and safety of the L0 users.
Level 1 Certification
The L1 course provides knowledge of basic MRI safety principles and procedures, BIC resources, and provides hands-on training with key MRI scanner safety features in case of an emergency. All individuals providing clinical care or emergency medical support to the Center’s operations must be L1 trained.
A Level 1 researcher satisfies the 2-person requirement (L2 + L1) for human research studies, has Zone 1 and Zone 2 access privileges, and may schedule in FBS. Only research users involved in projects > 4 months will be considered for Level 1 certification. For rotations / class visits, Level 0 – MRI Observer status is more appropriate.
Note that Level 1 certification is system-specific, due to subtle differences between the Siemens Prisma and Vida and the layout of the NHB and HDB sites.
There is a one-time fee of $100 for new L1 research trainees.
L1 certification on one system will confer Level 0 status on the other, but the L0 constraints still apply.
Level 1 certification on a second system can be attained by completing a site walkthrough with BIC staff, for which there is no additional fee. MRI safety screening forms will need to be re-submitted to BIC for individuals seeking training on an additional system.
Level 2 Certification
The L2 course includes a detailed lecture on MRI principles and advanced safety considerations, as well as scanner operator training. Prior experience as a Level 1 user is
required.
Note that the
Siemens and
Bruker systems
have different hardware and software environments
, therefore specific training on
each system is
Level 2 certification requires completion of the following modules:
- Obtain Level 1 certification: prospective L2 candidate must have observed or participated in 5 scanning sessions as an L1 prior to submitting an L2 training request.
- Attend the Level 2 training lecture: email BIC support to request a copy of our virtual L2 lecture.
- Pass the Level 2 written exam.
- Complete 5 hands-on apprenticeship sessions (operating the scanner) under the supervision of a qualified Level 2 mentor. These sessions can be performed on a phantom, but a minimum of 1 must be performed on a training participant to be qualified to run a human scan.
- Submit the L2 Certification form to BIC support asking to sit the L2 practical exam on the appropriate MRI scanner (Skyra or Vida).
- Pass the Level 2 Practical Exam
Successfully passing the L2 practical exam will certify that the user is permitted to operate the scanner and run MRI studies. Access to the MRI scanner room will be granted, and morphometric (fingerprint) IDs will be uploaded to the entry system.
All human MRI studies performed at BIC require the presence of an L2 user assisted by a L1 user or another L2 user (2-person rule).required. The Siemens Prisma and Vida systems have the same software and similar hardware environments.
There is a one-time fee of $500 for L2 certification.
L2 certification on a second system can be attained by completing a site walkthrough with BIC staff, for which there is no additional fee. MRI safety screening forms will need to be re-submitted to BIC for individuals seeking training on an additional system.
PET/CT User Training
Siemens Inveon preclinical
system: Please email training inquiries to bic-training@utlists.utexas.eduNote that Radiation Safety training for Radioactive Materials (RAM) and/or X-ray devices is a
prerequisite for scanner training and is available through UT Austin Environmental Health and Safety (EHS).
GE Discovery human system: Please contact the BIC Director if you are interested in performing human CT or PET studies. Human PET/CT studies
require the assistance of a PET/CT Technologist
.
Optical Imaging User Training
Xenogen IVIS optical imaging system
Facility Access
To gain access to the BIC Facilities in NHB or HDB please complete the BIC Access Request Form. The form should be submitted by the PI or supervisor of the individual(s) requiring access - requests from individuals unknown to BIC staff will be denied. Only legitimate requests to access Center resources will be considered: Please email training inquiries to bic-training@utlists.utexas.edu
X-ray Irradiator User Training
MultiRad 350 X-ray irradiator: Please email training inquiries for operation of the X-ray irradiator located in HDB to bic-training@utlists.utexas.edu
Facility Access
BIC policy and procedures regarding access to our Facilities in NHB or HDB can be found on the Policies and Procedures page of our Wiki.
Scheduling Scanner / Resource Time
Resource Scheduling policy and the procedure to gain access to FBS
, our online resource scheduling system
, can be found
Additional Information
on the Policies and Procedures page of our Wiki.