Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.05.05.076273v1?rss=1 Authors: Koike, S., Tanaka, S., Okada, T., Aso, T., Asano, M., Maikusa, N., Morita, K., Okada, N., Fukunaga, M., Uematsu, A., Togo, H., Miyazaki, A., Murata, K., Urushibata, Y., Autio, J. A., Ose, T., Yoshiomoto, J., Araki, T., Glasser, M. F., Van Essen, D. C., Murayama, M., Sadato, N., Kawato, M., Kasai, K., Okamoto, Y., Hanakawa, T., Hayashi, T., Brain/MINDS Beyond Human Brain MRI Group Abstract: Psychiatric and neurological disorders are afflictions of the brain that can affect individuals throughout their lifespan. Many brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have been conducted; however, imaging-based diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers are not yet well established. The Brain/MINDS Beyond human brain MRI project (FY2018 ~ FY2023) is a multi-site harmonization study aiming to establish clinically-relevant imaging biomarkers using multiple high-performance scanners, standardized multi-modal imaging, and a study design that includes traveling subjects. This project began with 13 clinical research sites that collect MRI data on psychiatric and neurological disorders across the lifespan and three research sites that design and develop measurement procedures, neuroimaging protocols, data storage and sharing, and analysis tools. Brain images obtained with the Harmonization protocol (HARP) are preprocessed and analyzed using approaches developed by the Human Connectome Project, generating preliminary cortical structure, function, and connectivity measures that are comparable across scanners. The use of 'travelling subjects', in which study participants travel to multiple sites to undergo scanning with standardized neuroimaging techniques, enable us to minimize the measurement bias between scanners and protocols and to increase the sensitivity and specificity of case-control studies. All the imaging and demographic and clinical data are shared between the participating sites and will be made publicly available in 2024. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first multi-site human brain MRI project to explore multiple psychiatric and neurological disorders across the lifespan. The Brain/MINDS Beyond human brain MRI project will help to identify the common and disease-specific pathophysiology features of brain diseases and develop imaging biomarkers for clinical practice. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info