Operator Cover
• If you need someone to operate the scanner, then bookings should only be made for your project during the hours where there is MR cover available - the "MRI Operators" calendar shows who is operating the scanner during each session.• Studies requiring operator cover outside the designated hours may be able to arrange this with the operators directly.
• Bookings for more than 4 weeks in advance are considered provisional, to allow the operators to plan leave.
Advance booking limit
• 2 months for all funded studies (but see restrictions for PhD student scanning, below).Regular bookings
• Projects that require a regular timeslot each week (e.g. clinical populations, or large cohorts) can request this from the Directors/MR Lab Manager.• The timing of the regular slot will be accommodated as far as practical, subject to the limitations of radiographer provision.
• Regular bookings may have to be changed in future to accommodate changes in radiographer provision or scanner demand.
• Cancellations follow the same rules as for any other projects.
• The following sessions are for specific projects, and are bookable via separate calendars on the booking system:
- Clinical Session (Thursday PM): For projects scanning clinical populations.
- PhD Session (Monday AM): Available for PhD student projects (see below).
- TMS-MRI (Tuesday AM): For projects associated with TMS-MRI grants.
PhD Student Scanning
PhD students who do not have external funding for their scan fees have additional restrictions on scanner bookings:- Students can book sessions during the PhD session (Monday 1030-1330). This is bookable via the see the "PhD Session" calendar.
- Students can book scanner time outside 'peak' hours (Mon-Fri 9-6pm), i.e., early mornings, evenings, and weekends are available.
- Students cannot book the MR scanner during 'peak' hours unless the required session is within the next 7 days (e.g. a cancellation).
Cancellations.
Cancelled bookings are chargeable. For any project, the first ‘chargeable’ cancellation will be overlooked, but subsequent cancellations will be charged at the following rate:- Bookings cancelled less than 7 days before the scan will be charged at 50% of the scan fee (excepting bookings made less than 7 days before the scan).
- Bookings cancelled less than 24 hours before the scan will be charged at 100% of the scan fee (excepting bookings made less than 24 hours before the scan)
The following are also chargeable cancellations:
- Researcher failing to arrive, or arriving late for the scanning session.
- Participants not passing MR screening (contra-indications should be checked prior to the participant arriving for a scan).
- Participants not providing full UK GP details, including the address of the practice.
- Participants failing to meet any criteria for the experiment (e.g. failing a performance limit for a task).
Scan Timing
It is the responsibility of the researcher to ensure that the experiment can be completed within the booked scanner time. Over-running can result in the experiment being cut short.The researcher should ensure that the participant is ready to enter the MR scanner at least 5 minutes before the start of the exam. This includes;
- Initial and second screening forms have been completed.
- The participant has removed all metal from their pockets, clothes, hair etc.
- Consent form has been completed.
- The experiment and MR procedure has been fully discussed with the participant.
