NACC Data Release Spotlight!

SCAN PET and MRI data are now available to the scientific community.

This unprecedented dataset contains summary and analysis variables extracted from standardized amyloid PET scans, tau PET scans, and MRI scans connected to comprehensive clinical and cognitive data from NACC’s Uniform Data Set (UDS) and other data modalities available at NACC.

Request SCAN data at NACC
MRI machine
SCAN

Standardized Centralized Alzheimer’s & Related Dementias Neuroimaging (SCAN)

The goal of SCAN is to enable standardized PET and MRI data collection from across the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRC) Program so that it can be combined and shared with researchers around the world via the NACC Data Platform. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) provides SCAN’s funding.

The SCAN initiative is a collaboration between:

Berkeley University of California
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
University of Michigan
Mayo Clinic
UC Davis
National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center
Laboratory of Neuro Imaging
National Institutes of Health

Submit SCAN Data

THE SCAN INITIATIVE ONLY ACCEPTS SCAN-COMPLIANT DATA
Images that don't meet SCAN protocol are still accepted by NACC. Learn more

Submit SCAN-Compliant data to LONI

Please carefully review the SCAN PET manual and the SCAN MRI manual to ensure that your data is compliant with the SCAN protocol and for uploading instructions.

Only SCAN-compliant data should be submitted to the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI). Non-approved data (with or without approved data) will be quarantined. Images collected before 2021 do not meet SCAN-compliance criteria.

Submit non–SCAN-compliant data directly to NACC

SCAN does not accept data that is not prospectively collected and SCAN-compliant.

Any data that is 'mixed protocol' or non-SCAN-compliant should be submitted to NACC.

About

Overview

The Standardized Centralized Alzheimer’s & Related Dementias Neuroimaging (SCAN) initiative is a multi-institutional project that was funded as a U24 grant (AG067418) by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) in May 2020 with the goal of standardizing the acquisition, curation, and analysis of PET and MR images acquired through the NIA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) Program. The National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) Data Platform enriches the SCAN dataset by linking with the longitudinal Uniform Data Set and other data modalities at NACC.

ADRCs upload SCAN-compliant images to a portal hosted by the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI) at the University of Southern California where they are de-identified and defaced by the Aging and Dementia Imaging Research (ADIR) laboratory at Mayo Clinic. The PET and MRI laboratories at the University of Michigan and the Aging and Dementia Research (ADIR) Laboratory at Mayo Clinic then process for quality assurance and harmonization. Following this, the PET laboratory at UC Berkeley and the MRI laboratories at Mayo Clinic and UC Davis analyze the images to produce MRI volumes and PET Standardized Uptake Value Ratio (SUVR) data.

Recently, SCAN methods have been applied to the ADRC Consortium for Clarity in ADRD Research Through Imaging (CLARiTI).

A schematic of data flow. The caption describes this schematic.

Why is SCAN needed?

For many years, researchers at the NIA-funded ADRCs have been collecting different types of PET and MR images. This “mixed protocol” or “legacy” data was collected using a variety of different acquisition methods such as T1-weighted imaging, diffusion imaging, or resting state functional MRI. Because of this, image data could not be easily combined across ADRCs, resulting in lost opportunities for scientific collaboration. The goal of SCAN is to standardize PET and MRI data collection from across the ADRC Program so that it can be combined and shared with researchers around the world via the NACC Data Platform.

Data Sharing

The NACC Data Platform makes harmonized images and numerical summaries (e.g., Standardized Uptake Value Ratio ‘SUVRs’ and volumes) available to ADRCs and approved researchers around the world through the following mechanisms:

ADRC Portals: ADRCs can access and download SCAN data for their participants

  • SCAN QC Dashboards: ADRCs can track and audit their image submission’s quality control (QC) status and other summary information in real-time.

  • All SCAN Variables: Numerical analysis results – such as Standardized Uptake Value Ratio ‘SUVRs’, brain volumes, white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), cortical thickness, surface area, and cerebral infarction – are accessible to ADRCs via the ADRC Portals. Navigate to your ADRC-specific SCAN Dashboard (or ADRC Portals) to view the analysis results for all participants whose MR and PET images have passed QC and been analyzed.

NACC Data Front Door: Researchers anywhere can access SCAN data for free

  • SCAN Public Dashboard: The SCAN Public Dashboard provides researchers with up-to-date information on the number of participants with SCAN-compliant PET and MR images and the total number of images submitted by each ADRC to SCAN.

  • Quick Access File Data Request System: Researchers can request SCAN data collected from all participating ADRCs, including summary, QC, and analysis (volumes and SUVRs) data. As of August 2024, Researchers can also access defaced SCAN images via this data request system.

  • Cohort Selection Tool: Coming in 2025! A new self-service tool coming to NACC allowing researchers to perform cohort selection, data visualization, and provide access to raw data at NACC directly.

Data Front Door overview

Raw images are stored at the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI). ADRCs and researchers interested in accessing the raw images will be able request them via LONI in the near future. NACC will provide updates on the availability of raw images as progress is made by SCAN, LONI, and NACC to ensure raw image data is de-identified before it is made available to the public.

SCAN Protocols

Prospective image files that meet SCAN acquisition protocols, regardless of the funding source, are submitted to LONI as part of this project. Existing images, and prospective images that don’t meet SCAN protocol, are instead submitted directly to NACC.
SCAN has a set of required acquisition schemes for PET and MR data. This includes required PET protocols for acquiring amyloid, tau, and fludeoxyglucose-18 (FDG) PET scans, and required MRI sequences for structural T1 and Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) scans. Additional MRI sequences are optional. Analyzed data available to investigators will include:

  • Regional measures of amyloid, tau, and FDG tracer uptake

  • Brain volumes

  • White matter hyperintensities

  • Cerebral infarction

  • Fractional anisotropy, cerebral blood flow, and functional connectivity (depending on the availability of advanced MRI sequences)

Current SCAN protocols are focused on widely accepted and applied biomarkers generally, but not exclusively, related to characterizing research participants in the A/T/N framework. To continue to support collaborative research, SCAN will base future directions on the needs and goals of the ADRC program. These may include other MRI techniques or PET tracers as best practices for their acquisition and analysis become available.

SCAN Dashboard

This dashboard tracks the number of Standardized Centralized Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Neuroimaging (SCAN)-compliant MR/PET images that have passed QC and are available for analysis. SCAN MRI and PET data that has passed QC and been analyzed is available to all researchers, worldwide, via NACC’s Data Front Door – Learn more here.

All data was submitted by each Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) to the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI) for the SCAN Initiative.

New to the SCAN Dashboards?

Important Update: This dashboard has been updated to reflect the total number of SCAN MRI and PET data that have passed QC and are available for analysis.

The totals reflected in the SCAN Public Dashboard may differ from the total number of images your ADRC has submitted as it takes time for the SCAN team to evaluate images for compliance and to perform de-facing, quality control, and analysis prior to releasing this data to researchers. For a more complete picture of your total submissions by center and where they are at in the QC pipeline, please visit your ADRC-specific SCAN QC Dashboard via the “private dash” links below.

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Please note: Only ADRC members with data access privileges can view the ADRC-Specific SCAN QC Dashboards. Learn how to get access in the SCAN Dashboard Quick Guide.

Resources for ADRCs

How to Participate

Data Resources

See Below

SCAN team Tips for successful uploads

  1. Qualify all scanner(s) to the SCAN protocol for MRI and PET as per the SCAN MRI manual and the SCAN PET manual.

  2. Do not self-deface series or scans.

    • This is done centrally by SCAN for all relevant series prior to image release.
    • Defacing multiple times introduces undesirable data heterogeneity.
  3. Do not self-anonymize DICOMs.

    • This is done by LONI upon image upload.
    • May be impossible to protocol check or even display an image.
  4. Do not upload the same exam(s) or scan(s) multiple times.

    • Uploading exams multiple times results in unnecessary investigation and clean up time/effort which diminishes throughput.
  5. Ensure correct participant ID is assigned to the upload exam.

    • Failure to do so results in unnecessary investigation and clean up time/effort which diminishes throughput.

For PET, do not upload non-attenuation corrected data (NAC), also do not upload summed frames (anything longer than 5 min per frame).

Resources for Researchers

Researchers around the world can access Standardized Centralized Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Neuroimaging (SCAN) initiative harmonized images and numerical summaries (e.g. Standardized uptake value ratio ‘SUVRs’ and volumes) via the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) Data Platform through NACC’s Data Front Door.

NACC's Data Front Door

Free access is available via the following mechanisms:

SCAN Public Dashboard

Up-to-date information about the number of participants with SCAN-compliant MR/PET images and the total number of images submitted by each Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) to SCAN.

View the SCAN Dashboard

Quick Access File Data Request System

Researchers can request SCAN numerical data collected from all participating ADRCs, including summary, QC, and analysis (volumes, cortical thickness, surface area, and SUVRs) data. As of August 2024, Researchers can also access defaced SCAN images via this data request system.

Request SCAN data at NACC

Raw Image Availability

Images are currently stored at the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI). Researchers can access these images via NACC’s Quick Access File Data Request System. NOTE: Due to the processing time needed to perform defacing, QC, and analysis on submitted data, not all image data that has been submitted and/or passed through QC is available to researchers at this time.

Cohort Selection Tool:

Coming in 2025! A new self-service tool coming to NACC allowing researchers to perform cohort selection, data visualization, and provide access to raw data at NACC directly.

Data Acknowledgements

IF USING MRI AND/OR PET DATA FROM THE STANDARDIZED CENTRALIZED ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE NEUROIMAGING (SCAN) INITIATIVE, A STATEMENT ACKNOWLEDGING THE SCAN GRANT AND CENTERS IS REQUIRED IN PRESENTATIONS AND THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS SECTION OF MANUSCRIPTS AS DETAILED HERE.

Data Resources

Data Acknowledgements

IF USING MRI AND/OR PET DATA FROM THE STANDARDIZED CENTRALIZED ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE NEUROIMAGING (SCAN) INITIATIVE, A STATEMENT ACKNOWLEDGING THE SCAN GRANT AND CENTERS IS REQUIRED IN PRESENTATIONS AND THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS SECTION OF MANUSCRIPTS AS DETAILED HERE.

Meet the Team


Standardized Centralized Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Neuroimaging (SCAN) Initiative Team

MRI Team

  • Clifford Jack, MD - Mayo Clinic (Principal Investigator)

  • Charles DeCarli, MD

  • Chadwick Ward

  • Pauline Maillard

  • Christopher Schwarz

  • Denise Reyes

  • Bret Borowski

  • John Moore-Weiss

  • Leonard Matoush

  • Robert Reid

  • Anne Effron

  • Gregory Preboske

  • Jeffrey Gunter

  • Matthew Senjem

  • Colin Hortman

  • Kejal Kantarci

  • Oliver Martinez

PET Team

  • William Jagust, MD - UC Berkeley (Principal Investigator)

  • Bob Koeppe

  • Susan Landau

  • Suzanne Baker

  • Tessa Harrison

  • Trevor Chadwick

LONI Team

  • Arthur Toga

  • Karen Crawford

NACC Team

  • Sarah Biber

  • Bud Kukull

  • Brittany Hale

  • Brendan Smith

  • Zach Stark

  • Jessica Culhane

Collaborators

Berkeley University of California
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
University of Michigan
Mayo Clinic
UC Davis
National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center
Laboratory of Neuro Imaging
National Institutes of Health

SCAN Updates

Frequently asked questions

General FAQs

  • All PET summary and QC data submitted by each ADRC including:

    • NACCIDs

    • PTIDs

    • PET study date and time

    • Image UID & Scanner model

    • PET radiotracer used

    • Whether the scan passed QC or not

    • QC comments (why the scan failed QC, if failed)

  • All MRI summary and QC data submitted by each ADRC including:

    • NACCIDs

    • PTIDs

    • MRI study date and time

    • Image UID & Scanner model

    • Series date and time

    • Series number

    • Series type

    • Study comments: Visual artifacts, etc.

    • Release for Analysis: Whether the series was released for analysis or not based on QC and protocol checks

The ADRC-specific SCAN QC Dashboards, available via the ADRC Portals, now include the numerical analysis results – such as Standardized Uptake Value Ratio ‘SUVRs’, brain volumes, white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), cortical thickness, surface area, and cerebral infarction– for all participants whose MR and PET images have passed QC and been analyzed.

  • FAQs for ADRCs participating in SCAN

    Contact Us


    forum image

    Visit the ADRC Program Community Forum for additional support for the SCAN Initiative

    Office Hours

    The first Tuesday of every month we will hold open office hours via Zoom. SCAN investigators are standing by and prepared to answer your questions about imaging protocols, uploading, private imaging dashboards or any SCAN (including CLARiTI images, and P30-funded images) related issues you have.