Acquisition of a 9.4T Small Animal MRI/MRS System

描述(由申请人提供)： 范德比尔特大学的这项申请寻求部分资金，用于购买最先进的高场(9.4T)磁共振成像/光谱系统，该系统将用于扩展和改进涉及小动物的各种研究项目。该系统对目前由美国国立卫生研究院资助的几个项目至关重要，包括肿瘤生物学、神经功能和发育、糖尿病、酒精中毒和转基因小鼠的研究。对于涉及与进一步开发和应用医学核磁共振方法相关的基础研究的几个项目来说，这也是至关重要的。拟议中的设施将为活体成像和光谱学提供重大的新能力，从而允许目前由NIH资助的研究人员进行对其项目至关重要但目前无法在没有该仪器的情况下进行的研究。以前的几项研究是使用现有的过时的4.7T系统获得的，该系统有许多技术限制，不能提供这些项目所需的信息质量。新的、更高视野的仪器将获得固有的高信噪比、更高的空间和光谱分辨率的图像和光谱，以及对某些对比度机制更敏感的图像。拟议的系统将有一个更好的垫片和梯度系统以及相关的硬件，并将基于一个现代控制台和光谱仪，能够进行更广泛的现代实验。这些新功能将包括对各种实验非常重要的快速和3D成像，改进的扩散加权成像，以及用于新陈代谢研究的体内宽带多核(H-1、P-31和C-13)磁共振波谱。该系统将是一个致力于研究成像的新中心的组成部分，并将得到一大批经验丰富的物理学家、工程师和计算机科学家的支持，以及一批训练有素的合格支持人员的支持，其中包括电子工程师和动物技术专家。这些技术专家将负责协助用户进行实验设计、数据采集和数据分析。拟议的工具将是一个多用户设施，由一名主任和一名核心工作人员监督，通过一个运营委员会开发和管理，并由一个咨询委员会监督，该咨询委员会负责确保适当接触NIH资助的调查人员。收购拟议的仪器将显著提高使用小动物MRI和MRS进行研究的数量和质量，进而将帮助范德比尔特大学履行其在基础癌症生物学和癌症治疗、神经科学、结构生物学和遗传学领域加强床边研究的承诺。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application from Vanderbilt University seeks partial funding for the acquisition of a state-of-the-art, high field (9.4T) Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Spectroscopy system that will be used to extend and improve various research programs involving small animals. This system is essential for several current NIH-funded projects including studies of tumor biology, neural function and development, diabetes, alcoholism and transgenic mice. It is also essential for several projects that involve fundamental studies related to the further development and application of MRI methods in medicine. The proposed facility will provide a major new capability for in vivo imaging and spectroscopy and thereby will permit current NIH-funded investigators to undertake studies which are essential for their projects but which are currently unable to be performed without this instrument. Several previous studies have been obtained using an existing and antiquated 4.7T system that has numerous technical limitations and which is not able to provide the quality of information needed for these projects. The new, higher field instrument will acquire images and spectra that have inherently higher signal to noise ratios, greater spatial and spectral resolution, and images, which are more sensitive to some contrast mechanisms. The proposed system will have a much better shim and gradient system and associated hardware, and will be based around a modern console and spectrometer capable of a wider array of modern experiments. These new capabilities will include fast and 3D imaging that is important for a variety of experiments, improved diffusion weighted imaging, and broadband multi-nuclear (H-1, P-31 and C-13) in vivo MR spectroscopy for studies of metabolism. The system will be an integral part of a new Center dedicated to research imaging and will be supported by a large and experienced group of physicists, engineers and computer scientists, along with a well trained and qualified group of support staff, including electronic engineers and animal technologists. These technical experts will take responsibility for assisting users in experimental design, data acquisition and data analysis. The proposed instrument will be a multi-user facility, supervised by a director and a core staff, developed and managed via an operating committee, and with oversight by an advisory committee charged with the responsibility of assuring appropriate access to NIH funded investigators. The acquisition of the proposed instrument will significantly increase the number and quality of investigations using small animal MRI and MRS and in turn will help Vanderbilt University meet its commitment to enhancing bench-to-bedside research in the areas of basic cancer biology and cancer therapy, neuroscience, structural biology and genetics.