The 11,000 square foot wing that houses the BRaIN was build with a construction grant from the NIH and an institutional match from the UNM. It is funded mostly by research grants from the NIH with an annual total funding level of $5 million. About 35 active investigators work in BRaIN, which specializes in neuroimaging research using animal models of human neurological and psychiatric disorders—complementing the Mind Institute which specializes on human neuroimaging research. The BRaIN has the following state-of-theart equipment and facilities devoted to neuroimaging research in animals:
• 4.7T 40 cm Bruker MR scanner for anatomical and functional MRI of small (mouse) and large (pig) animals
• Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) scanner for 3D in vivo imaging of free radicals
• Optical core with 2-photon laser scanning microscope, a photodiode array and DIC infrared systems for cellular studies of calcium regulation and population electrical activity
• 128-channel EEG system for in vivo electrophysiology
• MicroSQUID, a high-resolution MEG system for in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology
• Cellular and molecular core for analyzing the tissues of the brain of animals studied with the neuroimaging tools.
• Surgical core for surgery of small and large animals
• Satellite animal research facility for holding animals for longitudinal studies

UNM Departments of Neurology, Radiology and Psychiatry provide a full clinical infrastructure for the diagnostic development work performed by the Mind Institute (Mind). The faculties in UNM School of Medicine (Neuroscience, Neurology, Radiology, Neurosurgery, Pediatrics and Psychiatry), College of Pharmacy (Pharmaceutical Sciences), School of Engineering (Mechanical, Computer and Electrical Engineering), College of Arts and Sciences (Psychology, Biology and Physics) facilitate the training activities at Mind, provide an academic home for many Mind researchers, and educate undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students with the academic training in conjunction with hands-on experience obtained at the Mind.

John Lauriello, M.D. – University of New Mexico Site PI
Dr. Lauriello is a professor, vice chair and chief of clinical operations of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico, as well as executive medical director of the UNM Psychiatric Center and director of the Schizophrenia Research Group. He serves as a reviewer for The American Journal of Psychiatry, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry and Schizophrenia Research, among others, and has authored numerous journal articles, 11 book chapters and co-edited several books, including Atypical Antipsychotics from Bench to Bedside. He is a past recipient of the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance for the
Mentally Ill. His interests include schizophrenia, psychopharmacology, brain imaging and new drug research.

Yoshio Okada, Ph.D. – University of New Mexico Site PI
Dr. Okada is a Professor of Neurology and Neurosciences at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, vice chair for research at the Department of Neurology, as well as director of the BRaIN (Biomedical Research and Integrative Neuroimaging) Center. He developed the world’s first magnetoencephalography (MEG) device – the babySQUID – optimized for neonatal brain assessment. During his career, he has raised more than $30 million in grant support, including $21 million from the National Institutes of Health to create the BRaIN Center housed in Pete and Nancy Domenici Hall adjacent to the Mind Institute.

The BRaIN specializes in integrative neuroimaging research in animal models using a combination of neuroimaging and cellular and molecular techniques. The BRaIN studies animal models of neurological and psychiatric disorders complementing the human neuroimaging research being carried out at Mind. Dr. Okada has been working to develop this combined BRaIN and Mind facility as a premier neuroimaging facility in the world capable of translational neuroimaging research. The BRaIN has been helping the UNM and Mind researchers carry out MRI studies in animals to test hypotheses regarding mechanisms of schizophrenia and pain. The BRaIN and Mind have been also working together for developing new imaging tools such as oxygen-17 based fMRI and single-trial fMRI and MR spectroscopy. This partnership, along with UNM and Los Alamos National Laboratory have been using a combination of mathematical neural network models and experimental measurements of magnetic field, optical signals and electrical signals inside the porcine brain to establish the solid link using first principles between the electrical activity of neurons and functional MRI signals such as neuronal current, initial dip and BOLD-based MRI. As a site director of the Mind, Dr. Okada intends to continue his effort to work together with the Mind Institute in making the resources available to the New Mexico community and in advancing neuroimaging research.