MRS4Brain Toolbox: an harmonized and accessible workflow for preclinical MRSI data processing

Motivation: Numerous software options exist for MRS processing, yet the preclinical domain lacks a harmonized multimodal toolbox featuring a graphical user interface (GUI). Goal(s): Our goal was to create a harmonized toolbox tailored to preclinical MRS processing, with a special focus on addressing MRSI-related challenges. Approach: The MRS4Brain Toolbox was designed to handle 1H and X nuclei data, and to allow brain segmentation of MRSI voxels in order to investigate brain regional differences. Results: Fast and user-friendly brain MRSI segmentation and metabolic mapping were achieved, promoting the study of brain-regional differences. Impact: The implementation of the open-source MRS4Brain Toolbox enables rapid and straightforward advanced preclinical MRS(I) data processing and quantification. It falls in line with the within- and across-site standardization effort launched by the MRS community.