NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Advanced MRI technology for studying mental health

Official title: Next-Generation 3 Tesla Human MRI Scanner for Mental Health Research

Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10973848 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is all about getting a new, advanced MRI scanner to help researchers at the Athinoula A. Martinos Center learn more about how the brain works in people with mental health conditions, so they can better understand and treat these issues.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMassachusetts General Hospital
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project startAugust 16, 2024
Project endAugust 15, 2025
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$600,000
NIH project number1S10MH133576-01A1
Project IDNIH-10973848 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for participation include individuals with mental health conditions such as autism, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer's disease.

Less likely to help

Patients with conditions not related to mental health or those outside the age range of 15-16 years may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on acquiring a state-of-the-art Siemens 3 Tesla MRI scanner to enhance mental health research capabilities at the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging. The new scanner will replace an outdated model, allowing researchers to conduct detailed investigations into brain structure and function with improved precision. By integrating this MRI system with PET imaging, the research aims to explore the cellular and molecular aspects of various mental health conditions. This upgrade will support a wide range of studies involving over 25 researchers and numerous funded projects.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and treatment options for mental health disorders.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research using advanced MRI technology has shown promising results in understanding mental health disorders, indicating that this approach is likely to be beneficial.

Where this research is happening

  • Massachusetts General Hospital
    Boston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Huang, Susie Yi — Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Study coordinator: Huang, Susie Yi

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.