A Diamond system for real-time metabolic imaging

描述（由申请人提供）：我们建议购买GE Diamond动态核极化（DNP）系统，供7个具有良好合作记录的主要机构共享使用。该系统对于使用超极化13 C MRI对人类受试者进行最先进的体内代谢研究是必要的。这些研究有可能揭示实时代谢信息-使用任何其他成像或非成像方式无法获得的数据。 提取这些信息将为在检测、分类和治疗各种严重疾病方面取得重大进展铺平道路。虽然最近的研究表明，超极化13 C MRI已准备好应用于临床环境，但宾夕法尼亚大学目前使用的极化仪器具有固有的缺点，这些缺点正在削弱宾夕法尼亚大学和其他重要机构的研究人员将这种技术转化为人类受试者的能力。这些偏振器不能产生足够量的偏振样品或维持足够的无菌条件以进行人体研究。 金刚石偏振片纠正了这两个主要缺陷，同时还表现出其他几个优点。 在宾夕法尼亚大学安装这一尖端系统将利用我们的功能和代谢成像小组在研究超极化MRI方面的丰富经验和技能，这是我们近二十年来一直在追求的研究领域。该系统最初将由7个机构用于开展19个NIH资助的项目，其中包括来自宾夕法尼亚大学、费城儿童医院、耶鲁大学、纽约大学、约翰霍普金斯大学、弗吉尼亚大学和坦普尔大学的50多名研究人员。这些大学内将受益的部门包括放射肿瘤学、放射学、生物学、药理学和耳鼻喉科。这些机构目前都没有拥有所需的仪器，以追求在超极化13 C MRI的转化研究，尽管有很大的兴趣在该领域。宾夕法尼亚大学正在与这些机构和其他地方的许多方面合作，以确定和解决与设施访问，技术问题，专业知识和协议有关的任何挑战。该系统将置于宾夕法尼亚大学放射科，并由内部咨询委员会管理和指导，该委员会由PI、合作研究者和主要用户组成。我们预计该设施将对超极化13 C研究的临床接受度和有效性产生广泛和持续的影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose the purchase of a GE Diamond dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) system for the shared use of 7 major institutions with well-established records of collaboration. This system is necessary for state-of-the-art in-vivo metabolic studies on human subjects using hyperpolarized 13C MRI. Such studies have the potential to reveal real-time metabolic information-data unachievable using any other imaging or non-imaging modality. Extracting this information will pave the way for significant progress in the detection, classification, and treatment of a wide range of serious disorders. While recent studies have indicated that hyperpolarized 13C MRI is ready to be applied to clinical settings, the polarization instruments currently in use at the University of Pennsylvania possess inherent shortcomings that are undermining the ability of researchers from Penn and other important institutions to translate this technique to human subjects. These polarizers do not produce sufficient quantities of polarized sample or maintain sufficiently sterile conditions to enable human studies. The Diamond polarizer corrects both of these major deficiencies while also exhibiting several other advantages. Installing this cutting-edge system at Penn will take advantage of the abundant experience and skill of our Functional and Metabolic Imaging Group in studying hyperpolarized MRI, a field of research that we have been pursuing for almost two decades. The system will initially be used by 7 institutions to carry out 19 NIH-funded projects featuring over 50 investigators from the University of Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Yale University, New York University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Virginia, and Temple University. Departments within these universities that will benefit include radiation oncology, radiology, biology, pharmacology, and otolaryngology. None of these institutions currently possess the required instrumentation to pursue translational research in hyperpolarized 13C MRI, despite having substantial interest in the field. Penn is collaborating with a number of parties at these various institutions and elsewhere to identify and solve any challenges relating to facility access, technical issues, expertise, and protocol. The system will be placed in Penn's Department of Radiology and will be managed and directed by an internal advisory committee composed of the PI, co-investigators, and principal users. We expect the facility to have a broad and ongoing impact on the clinical acceptance and effectiveness of hyperpolarized 13C research.