System Upgrade for Small-Animal MRI

描述(申请人提供)：华盛顿大学和其他科学机构的生物医学研究社区广泛使用小鼠、大鼠和仓鼠等小型实验动物模型。随着最近分子生物学的革命，转基因实验动物模型--特别是小鼠--已经成为生物医学研究机构不可或缺的一部分。然而，确定和发展评估动物模型中感兴趣的特征的方法仍然是一个巨大的挑战。在这方面，诸如磁共振成像、正电子发射断层扫描、计算机断层扫描和光学成像所提供的非破坏性成像方法尤其有价值。生物医学磁共振实验室负责华盛顿大学几乎所有的小动物核磁共振研究。BMRL是华盛顿大学小动物影像资源的总部，该资源是专门为满足小型实验动物模型的MRI、PET以及最近的光学断层扫描和CT的需求而建立的。国家癌症研究所通过其小动物成像研究计划为WUSAIR提供实质性支持。BMRL还与华盛顿大学的阿尔文·J·西特曼癌症中心联系在一起，这是NCI的一个综合癌症中心，作为其小动物成像核心的总部。这笔共享仪器赠款要求提供资金，将BMRL的核心仪器之一--已有12年历史、4.7特斯拉、33厘米的小动物核磁共振扫描仪--升级到最先进的能力。此次升级包括来自瓦里安核磁共振系统公司(扫描仪控制台)、MagneX Science公司(梯度/垫片线圈组件)、Copley Controls(梯度放大器)和Resonance Research(垫片电源)的新组件。通过此SIG应用程序升级的小动物MRI扫描仪将在BMRL的智能和管理基础设施内安装、操作、维护和管理。升级后的扫描仪将为支持体内和体外(固定组织)磁共振成像方案所需的大量研究(和用户培训)提供平台。因此，需要使用BMRL扫描仪的NIH资助的研究人员的广泛社区将立即直接受益于所需的磁场梯度和控制台升级。相关性：小型实验动物(如小鼠)疾病和损伤模型广泛应用于整个生物医学研究领域。这项提议的主题是磁共振成像，它允许一种安全、非侵入性、非破坏性的手段来评估这些模型，并将结果转化为患者。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Small laboratory animal models such as mice, rats and hamsters are widely used throughout the biomedical research community at Washington University and other scientific institutions. With the recent revolution in molecular biology, transgenic laboratory animal models - in particular mice - have become an indispensable part of the biomedical research armamentarium. However, the identification and development of methods for evaluating the characteristics of interest within animal models remains a significant challenge. Nondestructive imaging procedures, such as those offered by magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, computed tomography, and optical imaging are especially valuable in this regard. The Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory has responsibility for essentially all small-animal MRI at Washington University. The BMRL is headquarters for the Washington University Small Animal Imaging Resource, which was established specifically to address the need for MRI, PET and, more recently, optical tomography and CT of small laboratory animal models. The National Cancer Institute provides substantial support for WUSAIR through its Small Animal Imaging Research Program. The BMRL is also associated with Washington University's Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, as headquarters of its Small Animal Imaging Core. This Shared Instrumentation Grant requests funds to upgrade one of the BMRL's core instruments, a 12-year-old, 4.7-tesla, 33-cm small-animal MRI scanner, to state-of-the-art capabilities. This upgrade includes new components from Varian NMR Systems (scanner console), Magnex Scientific (gradient/shim-coil assembly), Copley Controls (gradient amplifier), and Resonance Research (shim power supply) The small- animal MRI scanner being upgraded via this SIG application will be sited, operated, maintained, and administered within the intellectual and administrative infrastructure of the BMRL. The upgraded scanner will provide a platform for a host of studies (and user training) required for support of in vivo and ex vivo (fixed tissue) MRI protocols. Thus, the extensive community of NIH-funded researchers who require access to the BMRL scanners will immediately and directly benefit from the requested magnetic field gradient and console upgrades. RELEVANCE: Small laboratory animal (e.g., mice) disease and injury models are widely used throughout the biomedical research community. Magnetic resonance imaging, the subject of this proposal, allows a safe, non- invasive, non-destructive means to evaluate these models and translate findings to patients.