BIDMC 9.4T 20cm Biospec MRI System

描述（由申请人提供）：动物磁共振成像（MRI）作为开发和验证新MRI技术的一种手段，以及在动物疾病研究中跟踪组织状态的必要工具，取代了以前的侵入性和破坏性方法，正继续变得越来越重要。基础磁共振研究中心是贝斯以色列女执事医疗中心（BIDMC）放射科的一个机构，位于哈佛医学院，负责组织和动物疾病模型的磁共振成像。该设施目前包括一个8.5T 9 cm垂直孔系统和一个4.7T 40 cm水平孔系统，目前服务于11个R 01/ P01 /U 01 NIH项目和4个培训/试点NIH项目，以及3个R 01待定项目和3个社区内的其他项目。8.5T系统最初于1986年购买（在1999年之前定期升级部分电子设备和探头），4.7T系统于1999年购买。这两个系统都已经过时，对中心目前（和未来）的项目有很大的限制。目前的高端仪器计划提案征集提供了一个机会，通过购买最先进的MRI仪器来升级该中心。我们拟定的计划是购买一台9.4特斯拉20 cm孔径Biospec成像系统，配有显微成像梯度插入件，以替换这两种系统。用9.4T 20 cm孔径系统替换4.7T和8.5T系统，并配备相关的更高场强和更新的电子设备和软件，将为在当前系统上进行的大鼠和小鼠研究提供急需的图像质量和图像采集速度改进。升级后的电子设备和软件还将使目前不可行的实验成为可能。该中心设在BIDMC的卫星设施，哈佛医学研究所（HIM）。在接下来的一年里，BIDMC已承诺将实验室搬到BIDMC的主校区。在那里，它将非常接近朗伍德小动物成像设施（SAIF），具有生物发光，多光谱和高光谱荧光，microCT，microPET/CT，microSPECT/CT。此外，BIDMC刚刚购买了一个动态核极化（DNP）系统，该系统将允许在疾病的动物模型中进行前所未有的代谢研究。一个卫星动物设施是可用的，将允许动物被带入和取出成像在MRI和SAIF。此外，还聘请了一名全职的专职实验室经理，通过提供MRI专业知识来支持生物医学界的需求。总之，该中心目前支持广泛的NIH资助的研究人员。由全职实验室经理提供的支持，邻近的非MRI成像的小动物成像设施，DNP设备和专业知识的可用性，以及进出动物设施，将为动物模型中的疾病研究提供独特的基础设施。 公共卫生相关性：贝斯以色列女执事医学中心（BIDMC）的基础MR研究中心目前为BIDMC和周围的哈佛医学区提供磁共振成像（MRI）仪器，用于研究疾病的动物模型。该仪器的使用时间为10 - 23年;因此，目标是用最先进的MRI仪器替换过时的系统。通过这一改进，将在建筑行业（用于安装系统），实验室技术人员，科学家以及MRI行业内制造和服务人员的就业中产生就业机会。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of animals is continuing to gain importance as a means of development and validation of new MRI techniques, as well as a necessary tool for tracking of tissue status in animal studies of disease, replacing previously invasive and destructive methodologies. The Center for Basic MR Research is a facility of the Radiology Department at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and based in the Harvard Medical School area for MRI of tissues and animal models of disease. The facility currently includes an 8.5T 9 cm vertical bore system and a 4.7T 40 cm bore horizontal system, and currently serves the needs of 11 R01 / P01 / U01 NIH projects and 4 training / pilot NIH projects, as well as 3 R01 pending projects, and 3 other projects within the community. The 8.5T system was originally purchased in 1986 (with periodic upgrades of parts of the electronics and probes through 1999), and the 4.7T system was purchased in 1999. Both systems are outdated and have significant limitations for the current (and future) projects of the Center. The current call for proposals for the High End Instrumentation Program provides an opportunity to upgrade the Center by purchasing a state-of-the-art MRI instrument. Our proposed plan is to purchase a 9.4 Tesla 20 cm bore Biospec Imaging system with a microimaging gradient insert to replace both systems. The replacement of the 4.7T and 8.5T systems with a 9.4T 20 cm bore system, with the associated higher field strength and updated electronics and software, will provide much needed improvement in image quality and image acquisition speed for the rat and mouse studies being done on the current systems. The upgraded electronics and software will also enable experiments that are currently not feasible. The Center is housed at a satellite facility of BIDMC, the Harvard Institutes of Medicine (HIM). Within the next year, BIDMC has committed to moving the lab over to the main BIDMC campus. There it will be in close proximity to the Longwood Small Animal Imaging Facility (SAIF) with bioluminenscence, multi- and hyper-spectral fluorescence, microCT, microPET/CT, microSPECT/CT. In addition, BIDMC has just purchased a Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) system which will allow for unprecedented metabolic studies in animal models of disease. A satellite animal facility is available that will allow animals to be brought in and out for imaging in both MRI and the SAIF. In addition, a full time dedicated lab manager was hired to support the needs of the biomedical community by providing the MRI expertise. In summary, the Center currently supports a wide range of NIH funded investigators. The support provided by a full time lab manager, adjacent small animal imaging facility for non-MRI imaging, availability of DNP equipment and expertise, and in & out animal facility, will provide a unique infrastructure for investigation of disease in animal models. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The Center for Basic MR Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) currently serves BIDMC and the surrounding Harvard Medical area with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instrumentation for studying animal models of disease. The instrumentation is now between 10 and 23 years old; therefore the goal is to replace the outdated systems with state of the art MRI instrumentation. Through this improvement, jobs will be generated in the construction industry (for sitting the system), for lab technicians, scientists, and the employment of manufacturing and service personnel within the MRI industry.