Resources
Neuroimaging Resources
The MNC is a major user of complex computer systems for the storage and analysis of brain images and associated data. One of the major achievements in 2004/2005 was the establishment of the Neuropsychiatry Imaging Laboratory at The University of Melbourne, with smaller nodes at Sunshine Hospital and The University of Melbourne, Parkville. MNC Imaging Laboratories have a user base of between 25 and 35 individuals that includes MNC permanent staff, visiting staff, research students and administrative staff. Ms Bridget Soulsby manages this growing resource.
The technical environment is situated across three locations: Sunshine Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital and the National Neuroscience Facility at The University of Melbourne. These locations each comprise an information technology environment with imaging workstations, database and files servers, and standard desktop computers for office and administrative applications. A key feature is the capacity for 4 TB of storage with a current library of approximately 2,500 MRI brain scans.
The continued growth of the MNC will place greater requirements on the capabilities of the IT environment, particularly in database design and management, and the need to support a growing number of research users. Planning for the expansion of the laboratories to accommodate these increasing needs is currently underway to ensure that the research work generated by the Centre and its collaborators can continue to be supported.