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About Research MRI Safety at the Medical College of Wisconsin

The Research Magnetic Resonance Safety Committee (MRISC) has functioned since 1993, ensuring the safety of research subjects, investigators, study personnel and equipment. In 2007 the Senior Associate Dean for Research acknowledged the work of the MRISC and officially appointed the members. Reviews of human subject protocol submissions that included the use of MRI began in 2007. The MRISC also began reviewing Animal studies. Working with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Biomedical Resource Center (BRC) the MRI Animal Monitoring Standards were implemented October 28, 2008. The dedicated website: Research MRI Safety was established in 2012.

Mission Statement
The mission of the Research MRI Safety Committee is to foster an environment for the safe use of MRI in research at MCW. This mission is accomplished by conducting timely reviews of human participant and animal studies using MRI, providing the necessary safety training for researchers and staff, ensuring only trained and safety screened individuals have access to the magnetic environment, evaluating the safe use of accessory equipment in or around the magnetic environment, and serving as an available resource for investigators and others.

Committee Members

Chair: Andrew Nencka, PhD
Associate Professor of Radiology/Research
(414) 955-4766

Vice Chair: Mark Hohenwalter, MD
Professor of Radiology
(414) 805-2173

Jessica Fiore, R.T. (MR)(ARRT)
MRI Technologist Sr.
(414) 955-4074

Kevin Koch, PhD
Professor of Radiology/Research
(414) 955-4034

Peter LaViolette, PhD
Professor of Radiology/Research
(414) 955-7490

Mohit Maheshwari, MD
Professor of Radiology/Pediatric Radiology
(414) 266-8632

L.Tugan Muftuler, PhD
Professor of Neurosurgery/Research
(414) 955-7627

Azadeh Sharafi, PhD
Assistant Professor of Radiology/Research
(414) 955-4912

Erin Staege, R.T. (R)(MR)(ARRT) BS
MRI Technologist Sr.
(414) 955-4074