We are currently enrolling canine participants in the MRI studies below. Click on an image below to learn more.
If your dog qualifies for more than one of our current MRI studies, they can contribute to both at the same time with a single scan.
Not sure which study applies to you and your dog? Fill out our interest form and we will get in touch.
About our MRI Studies
The Canine Brains Project carries out noninvasive canine MRI neuroimaging scans at Harvard University. These are the same types of scans that are used for humans, and in fact, all of the other beings that use our MRI scanner are people! Scans are overseen by an expert veterinary team with state-of-the-art monitoring technology.
Enrolling
Before enrolling you in the study, a member of our team will talk with you to learn about your dog and answer any questions you may have. Our veterinarian can also speak with you on the phone to answer any medical questions. We will also ask for the contact information for your dog’s current veterinarian. Our veterinarian will reach out to your dog’s current vet to review your dog’s medical records and make sure they do not have any contraindications for MRI. Unfortunately, if your dog has ferromagnetic metal anywhere in their body or certain health conditions, we cannot enroll them in the study. (Identification chips are okay.) If your dog qualifies and you decide to enroll, we will send you some forms to fill out online before your visit.
Scheduling
We will schedule your scan on a date that is convenient for you. Currently, we are scheduling scans on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Scans are generally booked at least 2 weeks in advance, and may be booked up to 3 months in advance.
We ask that you consider your appointment date carefully before scheduling, because we cannot get refunded for MRI appointments once they are booked. If you find that you will be unable to visit on your scheduled date, please let us know as soon as possible so we can try to arrange for another dog to take your appointment. This allows us to make the best use possible of our research funding.
Visiting Harvard
Travel support may be available for dogs who qualify, and in this case, we will be happy to book your travel arrangements for you.
Each dog’s visit takes about 2 to 2.5 hours. The scan itself only takes about 1 hour, and the rest of the time is used for answering questions and pre-scan health checks. If you are arriving by car, we will provide you with a parking pass. The parking garage is located at 52 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA 02138 and it is attached to our building. A member of our team will meet you in the garage and walk you and your dog to our lab area. There are accessible routes between the garage and our research area. For those who prefer to take public transit, the Harvard Square red line MBTA stop is a short walk from our lab.
Once you arrive, our veterinary team will carry out a pre-scan medical check. The veterinarian will also answer any questions you might have before starting the scan.
While you wait, we have a comfortable reception area with a couch, wifi, and a smart TV with Netflix and Prime Video. There is a café in the building with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
Harvard Square is a short walk away and has many additional dining and shopping options.
The Harvard Museum of Natural History is located in the building next door to our lab. It is free for Massachusetts residents every Sunday morning (year-round) from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and on Wednesdays from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm (September through May).
When your dog’s scan is complete, we will give you a framed copy of your dog’s MRI image. Your dog will receive a Harvard bandana and lots of pets! We will walk you and your dog to the garage when you are ready to go home.
Questions?
Visit our FAQ page, or reach out to hechtlab@fas.harvard.edu to connect with a member of our team. We are happy to speak with you and answer any questions you might have.