Wondering what visiting the Canine Brains Project is like? Watch our informational video for a sneak peak!
Here are answers to some common questions.
I live far away. Can I still participate?
Yes! Many of our studies have at-home surveys, at-home behavior tests, or genetic samples you can mail to the lab. For MRI studies, travel support may be available for dogs who qualify for the study. Visit our MRI Studies page to learn more, or email us at hechtlab@fas.harvard.edu.
How do enrollment and scheduling work?
First, a member of our research team will reach out to you to learn about your dog and make sure they qualify for the study. They will then share links to some online forms, including a consent form and some surveys. Next, a member of our research team will confer with you about potential visit dates and schedule your visit on a date that works for you. Scans are generally scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance, and up to 3 months in advance. If you are traveling to us from outside the local area, a member of the study team will also book travel arrangements for you. Finally, if you are enrolling in an MRI study, a veterinarian from our team will reach out to you to answer any medical questions about the scan. The veterinarian will also ask to be connected with your dog’s current vet, and/or for you to send a copy of your dog’s medical records, to make sure there aren’t any medical reasons why MRI could be unsafe for your dog.
How long have you been doing this? How many dogs have been scanned?
The Canine Brains Project began in 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia, where our MRI scans were acquired at the University of Georgia at Athens Small Animal Teaching Hospital. In 2019, we moved to Harvard University. As of August 2025, we have acquired over 170 scans in Boston. We can scan up to 8-12 dogs per month.
My dog has an implanted ID chip. Can he or she still receive an MRI scan?
Yes! ID chimps are almost always MRI-compatible. We can scan your dog’s chip with a special sensor prior to the scan to make sure.
My dog received an MRI scan at our local veterinary hospital. Can you use that?
Unfortunately, no. All scans for the study must be acquired on the same scanner in order to avoid confounds in data analysis.
Can you scan my dog’s leg, back, hips, or abdomen while you are doing the brain scan?
Unfortunately, we cannot. Our equipment only allows us to image the head.
My dog needs a brain MRI scan for medical reasons, but I can’t afford it. Could my dog enroll in the study?
As much as we wish we could help with this, unfortunately, we cannot. Our research funding requires that funds be used to pay for scans for dogs that qualify for the study. In most cases, neurological conditions and other serious health conditions mean that dogs cannot qualify for any of our current studies. We wish you and your dog the best in dealing with your dog’s health issues.
Can I have a copy of my dog’s MRI scan?
Yes! We will send you home with a framed, printed image of your dog’s scan. If you or your veterinarian would like the scan files themselves, we can share the files with you.
Will the genetic sample tell me about my dog’s breed ancestry?
Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide this information. The genetic analyses we are running are not like what you see if you use Embark or Wisdom Panel for your dog. We are assessing relationships between one or a few genetic loci, behavior, and brain structure and in most cases will not be able to provide breed ancestry information from these analyses.
Can you tell me about the veterinary staff who will take care of my dog during the scan?
All of our MRI scans are attended by experienced veterinarians and certified veterinary technicians. Visit the People page to learn about each of our veterinary team members. We only scan 1 dog at a time, so our veterinary staff never have to divide their attention and can devote their full focus to your dog during his or her scan. All of our veterinarians and technicians also work at busy veterinary hospitals and clinics dealing with emergencies, surgeries, and complex medical issues — a big difference from the healthy, pre-screened dogs who visit our lab one at a time for a quick, non-invasive scan!