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How to use the XNAT platform for accessing and downloading MRI and MEG scan data

XNAT Introduction

WIN hosts an internal imaging system using the open-source XNAT platform. This platform will be used to store the majority of raw MRI and MEG scans that take place within WIN.

Note: MRI scanners are not yet setup for this system, please see the Uploading Data tab for details of the status of each scanner.

You will need to be on a university network to access the site, and it can then be accessed here: xnat.win.ox.ac.uk. To login to XNAT you will need to have a valid WIN Computing account, you can use these details to authenticate. You will initially be presented with a register page, once you click register you will be logged into the site.

How to access data in XNAT

Calpendo Integration

MEG and MRI Projects in Calpendo will be mirrored in XNAT (provided data from the project has been uploaded to XNAT). The system will attempt to assign a PI, project owner, and project users to the XNAT project based on the details it finds in Calpendo. This sync happens once an hour, so any changes made in Calpendo should be reflected in XNAT within 1-2 hours. Provided you are listed in Calpendo as a user of a project, you should have access to all that projects’ data in XNAT.

Finding your data in XNAT

From the XNAT homepage, on the left you will see a list of projects you have access to. On the right, you will see an activity feed for recently uploaded or modified data you have access to, with quick links to take you directly to them (Image 1). Clicking on a project name will take you to the project page. 

An example of a typical XNAT homepageImage 1: XNAT Homepage example


On a project page you will see metadata for the project taken from Calpendo, along with a list of subjects (Image 2). Clicking on a subject name will take you to that subjects page. 

An example of a typical XNAT project page

Image 2: XNAT Project page example


On a subject page you will see a list of all imaging sessions for that subject (Image 3). You will see a mix of the terms “Experiment” and “Session”, in XNAT they are interchangeable. Clicking on an experiment will take you to that experiments’ page. 

An example of a typical XNAT subject pageImage 3: XNAT Subject page example


On an experiment page you will see a list of the individual scans in the session, with descriptions and file counts.

An example of a typical XNAT session pageImage 4: XNAT Session page example

How to download data from XNAT

Browser Data Retrieval

On any project, subject, or experiment page you can use the Download > Download Images button found in the Actions menu on the top right of the page (Image 5).

An example of how to access the download images page from an imaging sessionImage 5: Download Images


This will take you to the "Imaging Data Download" page where you can customise the data you want to download. The first two columns allow you to select what data will be downloaded (Image 6).

An example of how to select data to download on the Imaging Data Downloads pageImage 6: Imaging Data Download Page (Project Level)


If you access this page from the project level, you will have access to all subjects within the project, and all their experiments (Image 6). If you access it from a subject page, you will have access to all experiments for that subject. If you load it from an experiment page, you will only have access to that experiments’ data (Image 7).

An example of how to download data on the Imaging Data Downloads pageImage 7: Imaging Data Download Page (Experiment Level)


There are multiple ways you can download your data from this page, you should use either:

  • Download via Desktop Client – This requires the XNAT Desktop Client to be installed (it is best suited for Windows and Mac devices – see the install guide for details).
  • ZIP download – Your selected data will be downloaded via the browser in a .zip file.

Once you have selected the data you want, and the method you want to use to download it, you can click the Submit button to start the process (Image 7).


Alternative Download Method

On an experiment page scans can also be selected for downloading. Check the boxes to the left of the scan ID's to select what to include, and then use the Download button above them to start a .zip download (Image 8).

An example of how to download data from a session pageImage 8: Experiment page downloading


Programmatic Data Retrieval

Downloading data is also supported via the command line. We recommend the XNATpy python library for this approach. For examples of how you might do this, see the XNATpy tutorials.


For further documentation and guides relating to downloading data from XNAT, please refer to the Resources tab above.

How to upload data to XNAT

Automatic Data Uploads

The majority of raw MRI and MEG data will be automatically uploaded to the XNAT platform after the scans are completed, using systems we have developed for individual scanners. In most cases, data will be available in XNAT within 1-2 hours after the scanning has completed.

The status of these systems can be seen below:

  • OHBA MEG - Active, running for all projects
  • OHBA 3T - Active, running for a limited number of projects
  • FMRIB 3T - Not active, in development
  • FMRIB 7T - Not active, in development
  • BSB 7T Small Mammal - Not active, in development

DICOM Uploading

If you have DICOM data to upload not already in XNAT, you can upload via the Desktop Client – This requires the XNAT Desktop Client to be installed (it is best suited for Windows and Mac devices – see the install guide for details).

Alternatively you can upload DICOM data from the XNAT homepage, from the top menu use Upload > Images > Compressed Uploader. This will allow you to upload a .zip or .tar file to XNAT containing DICOM data. You will be asked if you want to upload to the Pre-Archive or the Archive, if you are unsure then please read Using the Prearchive first.


Non DICOM Uploading

For any data not exclusively in DICOM format, it's easiest to use a script approach to upload to XNAT. We recommend the XNATpy python library for this approach. For examples of how you might do this, see the XNATpy tutorial


For further documentation and guides relating to uploading data to XNAT, please refer to the Resources tab above.

Useful links and resources to help use XNAT

XNAT Resources

How To Use XNAT - Official XNAT documentation and guides

Downloading from XNAT - Official downloading guides

Uploading to XNAT - Official uploading guides

XNATpy - The recommended XNAT Python client


Understanding User Roles and Permissions

It is important to understand the default roles within XNAT, and what each role offers a user. See Understanding User Roles and Permissions for details.


Understanding the XNAT Data Model

See the image below for a diagram explaining the XNAT Data Model. For further details, see Understanding the XNAT Data Model.

A diagram showing the XNAT Data Model

 

 

XNAT troubleshooting help

Troubleshooting


Unable to login to XNAT

You should use your WIN Computing account username and password to login to XNAT. If you are having problems, you can check your Computing account username and reset your password on the WIN Registration Page.


 Missing XNAT projects

If you log into XNAT and don't see your expected project(s) on the homepage, you need to check your current XNAT email address. You can do this by clicking on your username at the top right of the page, from any XNAT screen (just above the search bar in the top right of the screen). This page will show you your current email address used in XNAT. You need to check this matches the one you use in Calpendo in order for your project access in XNAT to be granted. If this does not match, you can change your XNAT email address on this page.


Unexpected folders in downloaded .zip files

Due to the way XNAT's data model is configured (see the Resources tab for details), you may find unexpected folders in your .zip files when downloading data via the browser. While this can't be completely disabled when downloading via the browser, provided you use the Imaging Data Download page (see the Downloading Data tab for details) and make sure "Simplify downloaded archive structure" is enabled above the Submit button, this will reduce the number of them. If you write your own script to download data, this can be avoided completely.