Metabolic Imaging Core

The MGH Metabolic Imaging Core (MMIC) provides advanced human metabolic and body‑composition imaging services, including high‑resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), MR spectroscopy (MRS), quantitative CT (QCT), and ultrasound, along with specialized software and AI‑driven tools for quantitative image analysis. The Core is staffed by a multidisciplinary team with deep expertise in radiology, MR spectroscopy, and biomedical engineering, offering comprehensive support from protocol development through image acquisition, QA/QC, and data interpretation. MMIC maintains rigorous standardized procedures to ensure high‑quality, reproducible research and collaborates widely to harmonize imaging methodologies and advance analytic tools.

Personnel/Contact Information

Director: Borek Foldyna, M.D., Ph.D
Email: bfoldyna@mgh.harvard.edu

Associate Director: Eva Ratai, Ph.D
Email: eratai@mgh.harvard.edu

Core Manager: Marilyn Galdámez
Phone: (617) 643-7465
Email: megaldamez@mgh.harvard.edu 

Senior Clinical Research Coordinator: Ivanna Zorgno
Email: izorgno@mgh.harvard.edu 

Location and Hours of Operation

Location: Mass General Imaging - Boston, 55 Fruit Street, Yawkey 6E, Boston, MA 02114.
Hours of Operation: Monday–Friday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Getting Started

For further information please fill out our Service Request Form or contact us at MMIC@mgh.harvard.edu. Confirmation from the Core team is required prior to
initiating services or scheduling equipment use.

Services and Equipment

Major Equipment: The MMIC has access to state-of-the-art technology in diagnostic imaging available at the Massachusetts General Hospital main campus, MGH Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care, and Martino's Center for Biomedical Imaging. Available equipment for research imaging includes:

  • 3T Siemens Vida
  • 1.5T Siemens Avanto
  • 3T Siemens Prisma
  • 3T General Electric Discovery
  • 1.5T General Electric Signa
  • Siemens NAEOTOM Alpha
  • General Electric Revolution CT 256-slice
  • General Electric LOGIQ E10 Series Ultrasound

Core Services

These are the most common services we provide our users, which can be adapted to meet the needs of various studies. (Custom imaging protocols are available upon request.)

Study Start-Up:

  • Support Investigators with study design and imaging methods for human research studies
  • Facilitate imaging site qualification for industry sponsored Clinical Trials
  • Training study staff in MGB Radiology Research Scheduling Good Practices

MRI and MRS:

  • 1H-MRS of muscle, liver, marrow and adipose tissue with analyses for lipid profiling
  • Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) for assessment of liver fibrosis
  • Quantification of areal and volumetric visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, cross-sectional muscle area
  • Liver MRI for assessment of steatosis and fibrosis (using Perspectum Multiscan protocol)
  • Brain MRI and MRS*
  • Functional MRI*

* Services offered through Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging

CT:

  • QCT - helical using single- or dual-energy CT for volumetric acquisition of bone mineral density
  • QCT single-slice for quantification of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, cross-sectional muscle area
  • CT analysis for body composition performed with deep learning algorithm (ideal for medium or large-scale studies or datasets requiring short-term execution
  • Photon-Countung CT

Ultrasound:

  • Quantitative ultrasound 
  • Shear wave elastography (SWE) for assessment of liver fibrosis and steatosis

Positron emission tomography (PET) :

  • PET**
  • PET/CT**
  • PET/MRI**

** Services offered through MGH Gordon PET Core.

Other Services:

  • Scheduling radiology research imaging procedures
  • Imaging analysis, including quantitative interpretation of imaging data
  • Data transfers to external institutions
  • Workshops in imaging techniques used in metabolic investigation

External Website

Please visit the Core’s external website for additional information: https://bostonareanorc.org/center-cores/metabolic-imaging-core/