7T Cryogen-Free Preclinical MRI for small animals to study infectious diseases in BSL-3 containment

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Infectious diseases are a major threat to humanity, and new tools are needed to study disease pathogenesis and aid the development of novel diagnostics, biomarkers and therapeutics. The alarming rise of highly virulent and multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens, their rapid spread, global pandemics such as COVID-19 and continued life-threatening nosocomial infections in hospitals, remain as major challenges to human health. Tomographic molecular imaging enables rapid, noninvasive visualization, localization and monitoring of molecular processes deep within the body and offers several advantages over traditional tools used for the study of infectious diseases. We are requesting a 7T Cryogen-Free preclinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system manufactured by MR Solutions (model 7024) to study infectious diseases in biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) containment at a centralized core facility. Since 2009, the Johns Hopkins Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research (Ci3R) has developed and supported preclinical molecular imaging (PET, SPECT, CT) for infections and inflammatory disorders and established an entirely new user base comprising several NIH- funded infectious diseases investigators within the Johns Hopkins University. While many investigators study Mycobacterium tuberculosis and more recently SARS-CoV-2 – both of which are designated as BSL-3 pathogens with special biosafety needs – Ci3R also supports other researchers that study MDR bacteria (e.g. MRSA) and viral agents such as Zika. Several new approaches for infection imaging have been developed at Ci3R and translated to the clinic. MRI has many advantages over radiopharmaceutical imaging, including high-spatial resolution and contrast. 1H and 19F MR spectroscopic imaging (19F MRSI) and chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) contrast would support complementary approaches for molecular imaging of infectious diseases. Therefore, the addition of a high-field preclinical MRI will greatly boost the research efforts related to infectious diseases imaging, while also leveraging the strong MRI expertise within Johns Hopkins University led by NIH-funded investigators. Imaging technologies for infectious diseases are an emerging field of research and overcome several fundamental limitations of current tools in infectious diseases. Therefore, these technologies can have a broad impact on both basic research and patient care. Beyond diagnosis and monitoring infections, these technologies will also provide a uniform cross-species platform for animal studies, allow unique insights into understanding disease pathogenesis and expedite bench-to-bedside translation of new therapeutics. Finally, since MRI is readily available for humans, including high-field 7T systems, validated techniques may become valuable tools for clinical applications in infectious diseases and for enabling precision medicine.