BIC offers training to support independent and assisted research activities using our resources, and 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)
certification 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 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
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
: 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,
The FBS Tutorial contains instructions for how to use the system.
To gain FBS access independent of User Training, please contact BIC support.
Additional Information
can be found on the Policies and Procedures page of our Wiki.