Quantum FX Micro-CT Scanner

描述(由申请人提供)：本申请申请为PerkinElmer/Caliper Quantum FX Micro-CT扫描仪申请资金，以支持塔夫茨大学、塔夫茨医学中心(TMC)和位于波士顿的塔夫茨Jean Mayer美国农业部人体营养研究中心进行的研究。一个由9名资金充足的NIH调查人员组成的小组将是该仪器的主要用户，加上另外6个用户，将占其使用的大约75%。介绍了癌症、心脏和代谢性疾病以及组织工程领域的前沿项目。由于塔夫茨大学或塔夫茨医学中心目前没有用于所述项目的Micro-CT仪器，因此目前对该仪器的需求是至关重要的。该系统将被安置在塔夫茨/TMC小动物成像临床前测试设施中，在那里它将补充现有的光学和超声成像设备。选择该系统的依据是该系统证明适合拟议的项目，能够以低得多的辐射剂量产生高质量的图像，证明其他机构用户的可靠性，以及其相对易用性和与其他设施成像设备的集成。该设备的添加得到了塔夫茨大学校长、医学和牙科学院院长、让·梅耶尔人类营养中心和塔夫茨医学中心癌症中心主任以及该设施实际所在的分子生理学和药物学系主任的大力支持。医学院院长已承诺为该仪器提供翻新空间；有关机构将以服务合同的形式为该仪器提供为期3年的特殊机构支助。该设施由信息技术处领导，该仪器将由该设施的协理主任和技术员/经理进行日常管理和操作，他还将培训新用户。PI和几个主要用户拥有微型CT方面的专业知识，该设施的副主任将在NIH老鼠成像设施接受微型CT基础知识和仪器使用方面的培训。两名具有CT专业知识的诊断成像放射科医生将担任顾问，为仪器及其用户提供支持。一个由PI、来自塔夫茨大学、塔夫茨医学癌症、美国农业部人类营养研究中心、分子生理学和药理学部门以及实验室动物医学部的代表组成的咨询委员会将监督Quantum FX Micro-CT扫描仪的使用，并制定使用和公平共享该仪器的政策。卡利珀Quantum FX Micro-CT扫描仪的推出将极大地提高塔夫茨大学和塔夫茨医学中心正在进行的由美国国立卫生研究院资助的研究的质量，并将促进塔夫茨研究社区各组成部分之间的翻译研究和合作。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application requests funds for a PerkinElmer/Caliper Quantum FX Micro-CT Scanner to support research being carried out at Tufts University, Tufts Medical Center (TMC) and the Tufts Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center in Boston. A group of 9 well-funded NIH investigators will be the major users of the instrument and along with 6 additional users will account for approximately 75% of its use. Cutting edge projects in the areas of cancer, cardiac and metabolic diseases and tissue engineering are described. Need for the instrument at this time is critical as there is currently n Micro-CT instrument available at either Tufts University or Tufts Medical Center for the projects that are described. The system will be housed in the Tufts/TMC Small Animal Imaging Preclinical Testing Facility where it will complement existing optical and ultrasound imaging equipment. Choice of the system was based on its demonstrated suitability for the proposed projects, its ability to produce high quality images at significantly lower radiation dose, evidenc of reliability from users at other institutions, and its relative ease of use and integration with other facility imaging equipment. Addition of the instrument to the Facility is strongly supported by the President of Tufts University, Deans of the Medical and Dental School, Directors of Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Center and the Cancer Center at Tufts Medical Center and the Chairman of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Pharmacology where the Facility is physically located. The Dean of the Medical School has pledged renovated space for the instrument; exceptional institutional support for instrument in the form of service contract support for 3 years will be provided by the institutions involved. The Facility is directed by the I and the instrument will be managed and operated on a day-to-day basis by the Associate Director and Technician/Manager of the Facility, who will also train new users. The PI and several major users have expertise in micro-CT and the Associate Director of the Facility will be trained at the NIH Mouse Imaging Facility in micro-CT fundamentals and instrument use. Two diagnostic imaging radiologists with CT expertise will serve as consultants to support the instrument and its users. An advisory committee consisting of the PI, representatives from Tufts University, Tufts Medical Cancer, the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center, the Department of Molecular Physiology and Pharmacology and the Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine will oversee use of the Quantum FX Micro-CT Scanner and develop policies for use and equitable sharing of the instrument. The availability of the Caliper Quantum FX Micro-CT Scanner will greatly enhance the quality NIH-funded research being carried out Tufts University and Tufts Medical Center and will stimulate translation research and collaboration among the various components of the Tufts research community.