MicroCT Core Facility in the Forsyth Institute

描述(申请人提供)：哈佛大学附属福赛斯研究所是世界上致力于口腔和颅面科学领域的研究和培训的卓越组织。牙齿及其连接的骨骼结构是牙齿研究的大多数方面的核心。MicroCT产生的三维X射线数据及其相关分析为测量骨骼和牙齿的病理和发育变化提供了最定量、准确和有效的方法。对于Forsyth的许多研究人员来说，缺乏便捷的MicroCT分析一直是一个障碍，导致他们依赖远程合作或替代方法来量化这些硬组织变化。因此，Forsyth研究人员迫切需要方便和廉价地获取骨骼和牙齿样本的MicroCT分析。这项提议的目标是通过获得室内体外微CT能力来满足这一需求。福赛斯66%的PI计划使用该仪器，这证明了福赛斯矿化组织分析的重要性。Sanco 50微型计算机断层扫描(Sanco 50 MicroCT)仪器将能够对Forsyth正在进行的许多重要项目进行更精确和全面的观察(即改进对突变小鼠骨组织的分析)，并为Forsyth的研究人员提供在他们的研究计划中轻松且经济高效地使用这项重要技术的机会。波士顿地区的其他微型CT系统要么对我们的调查人员不可用，要么已经达到最大容量。共有18名调查人员参与了这一项目。拥有14个活跃的NIH资助项目和本年度直接赠款的12名研究人员将受益于这项拟议的MicroCT共享仪器赠款(SIG)。这项申请的参与者占研究所资助项目的62%。福赛斯的其他员工和邻近的科学家也将受益。拟议的体外微CT仪器将极大地扩展和改进NIH支持的现有和即将进行的项目，它将满足我们战略计划所规定的计划扩展我们的研究计划所产生的未来需求。首席调查员和协理人员在微型CT扫描仪方面有丰富的经验，并将为仪器的正确使用提供领导和协助。研究监督委员会将提供总体指导和指导。福赛斯研究所全力支持这项提议。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Forsyth Institute affiliated with Harvard University is the world's preeminent organization dedicated to research and training in the areas of oral and craniofacial science. Teeth and the bony structures to which they are connected are central to most aspects of dental research. The three-dimensional x-ray data generated by microCT and the associated analyses provide the most quantitative, accurate, and efficient method to measure pathological and developmental changes in bones and teeth. The lack of easy access to microCt analyses has been an impediment to many researchers at Forsyth, resulting in reliance on long- distance collaborations or alternative methods to quantify these hard tissue changes. Thus, there is a strong need for convenient and inexpensive access to microCT analysis of bone and tooth samples by Forsyth researchers. The goal of this proposal is to meet this need by acquiring in house ex-vivo microCT capability. 66% of the PIs at Forsyth plan to use this instrument, attesting to the importance of mineralized tissue analyses at Forsyth. The Scanco 50 micro computed tomography (Scanco 50 microCT) instrument will enable more precise and comprehensive observations of the many significant projects that are ongoing at Forsyth (i.e. improved analysis of mutant mouse bone tissue) and provide investigators at Forsyth with the opportunity to easily and cost-effectively use this important technology in their research programs. Other microCT systems in the Boston area are either unavailable to our investigators or have reached maximum capacity. A total of 18 investigators are participating in this project. 12 investigators with 14 active NIH- funded Projects and current year direct grant awards will benefit from this proposed microCT shared Instrument grant (SIG). The participants in this application represent 62% of the NIH-funded projects in the Institute. Other Forsyth employees and neighboring scientists will also benefit. The proposed ex vivo microCT instrument will greatly expand and improve existing and pending NIH-supported projects, and it will address future needs created by the planned expansion of our research programs as dictated by our Strategic Plan. The Principal Investigator and Co-PIs have extensive experience with microCT scanners and will provide leadership and assistance for instrument's proper use. A Research Oversight Committee will provide overall direction and guidance. The Forsyth Institute is fully committed to support the proposal.