PET/CT for Nonhuman Primate Imaging

描述(由申请人提供)：加州大学戴维斯分校的一个主要优势是翻译研究和使用非人类灵长类动物来研究人类健康和疾病。加州大学戴维斯分校认识到活体成像是一个具有动态潜力的领域，成像技术可以应用于翻译和临床光谱，并已将此类技术和资源作为优先事项。这项提议的目标是获得对PET/CT混合成像系统的支持，该系统专门用于非人类灵长类动物的转译研究。该成像系统将位于加州国家灵长类动物研究中心(CNPRC)现有的非常成功的服务核心内，拥有加州国家灵长类动物研究中心(CNPRC)的必要技术专长，并拥有所有必要的空间、基础设施、支持和知识，以最高质量水平监督和进行非人类灵长类动物的PET/CT成像。目前正在进行和计划中的许多由NIH资助的研究将从这种基本成像技术的可获得性中受益匪浅。成像目前仅限于直径为22厘米的微型PET系统，这限制了对非常年轻的动物的研究或对较小动物的脑成像。这一仪器的研究将有利于干细胞/祖细胞贩运、基于基因的疗法和再生医学，以及哮喘等肺部疾病和艾滋病等传染病。美国国立卫生研究院资助的研究人员将通过既定的外展工作，如NIH支持的心、肺和血液疾病胎儿猴子基因转移中心和翻译人类干细胞研究卓越中心，随时可以访问该系统。需要为商业系统(GE Healthcare Discovery STE 16 PET/CT)提供资金，该系统将计算机断层扫描(CT)的高速、高分辨率能力与正电子发射断层扫描(PET)的代谢和分子成像能力融合在一起。该系统是根据探测器材料(BGO)选择的，与其他系统相比具有更高的空间分辨率，以及对不同年龄段(从婴儿到成年孕妇到老年人)的猕猴成像所必需的功能。该系统将提供所需的PET/CT成像，以满足加州大学戴维斯分校和全国由NIH资助的研究人员的独特机会，并扩展非人类灵长类动物的翻译研究和活体成像方面的现有能力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A major strength at UC Davis is translational research and the use of nonhuman primates for the study of human health and disease. UC Davis has recognized in vivo imaging as an area of dynamic potential in which imaging techniques can be applied across the translational and clinical spectrum, and has made such technologies and resources a priority. The goal of this proposal is to obtain support for a PET/CT hybrid imaging system dedicated solely for use in translational research studies with nonhuman primates. This imaging system will be located within an existing and highly successful service core with the necessary technical expertise at the California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC), and with all of the necessary space, infrastructure, support, and knowledge to oversee and conduct PET/CT imaging in nonhuman primates at the highest quality level. Many NIH-funded studies currently in progress and planned will benefit substantially from the availability of this essential imaging technology. Imaging is currently limited to a microPET system with a 22 cm bore size which restricts studies to very young animals or brain imaging in smaller animals. The studies this instrument will benefit spans stem/progenitor cell trafficking, gene-based therapies and regenerative medicine, to pulmonary disorders such as asthma, and infectious diseases such as AIDS. The system will be readily accessible to NIH-funded investigators nationally through established outreach efforts such as those in the NIH-supported Center for Fetal Monkey Gene Transfer for Heart, Lung, and Blood Diseases and Center of Excellence in Translational Human Stem Cell Research. Funds are requested for a commercial system (GE Healthcare Discovery STE 16 PET/CT) that provides a fusion of high- speed, high-resolution capabilities of computed tomography (CT) with the metabolic and molecular imaging capabilities of positron emission tomography (PET). This system was selected based on the detector material (BGO), the enhanced spatial resolution when compared to other systems, and features essential for imaging macaques in a variety of age groups (infant to gravid adults to aged). This system will provide the needed PET/CT imaging to address unique opportunities for NIH-funded investigators at UC Davis and nationally, and expand existing capabilities in translational research and in vivo imaging in nonhuman primates.