Multisite, multimodal neuroimaging of chronic urological pelvic pain: Methodology of the MAPP Research Network

• The MAPP Research Network has implemented a multi-site, multi-modal, MRI protocol.
• Despite initial challenges, the protocol was standardized across sites.
• Even with near-identical protocols, site differences were present in the data.
• Appropriate site-correction methods have led to multiple neuroimaging publications.
• Improved site harmonization is being implemented in the second phase of the study.

The Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network is an ongoing multi-center collaborative research group established to conduct integrated studies in participants with urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS). The goal of these investigations is to provide new insights into the etiology, natural history, clinical, demographic and behavioral characteristics, search for new and evaluate candidate biomarkers, systematically test for contributions of infectious agents to symptoms, and conduct animal studies to understand underlying mechanisms for UCPPS. Study participants were enrolled in a one-year observational study and evaluated through a multisite, collaborative neuroimaging study to evaluate the association between UCPPS and brain structure and function. 3D T1-weighted structural images, resting-state fMRI, and high angular resolution diffusion MRI were acquired in five participating MAPP Network sites using 8 separate MRI hardware and software configurations. We describe the neuroimaging methods and procedures used to scan participants, the challenges encountered in obtaining data from multiple sites with different equipment/software, and our efforts to minimize site-to-site variation.