3T MR Scanner for Translational Research using MRI and MRSI

描述(由申请人提供)：本提案的目标是为购买先进的3T全身磁共振扫描仪提供支持，该扫描仪包括用于动态核极化(DNP)的新的高性能仪器以及用于获取尖端解剖、生理和代谢成像数据的专门组件。这对于支持NIH资助的大量研究项目至关重要，这些项目正在开发和转换具有更高灵敏度和特异度的新成像策略，以评估临床前和患者研究中的新疗法。拟议的扫描仪将取代并大大增强现有研究系统的能力，该系统无法跟上正在开发的新技术的硬件和软件要求。将使用新扫描仪的研究重点是开发用于翻译和临床研究应用的患者的高分辨率磁共振成像(MRI)和波谱(MRS)。这对于新方法的实施和评估、维持现有的资助项目和扩大加州大学旧金山分校大量非常成功的MR研究项目非常重要。拟议的3T扫描仪和配套硬件将支持来自28名教师及其合作者的21个正在进行的和8个悬而未决的NIH研究拨款和技术开发项目。将在该系统上进行的研究的具体目标如下：1)提供一个平台，将新的磁共振技术转化为临床相关的FDA批准的程序，以支持在临床前模型系统和患者中的研究。2)验证可作为疾病定性和疗效评估的生物标志物的MR参数。3)支持需要对接受新疗法治疗的患者进行连续核磁共振成像和H-1磁共振成像测量的研究项目。4)探讨超极化C-13、P-31和其他多核磁共振波谱技术的应用，这些技术使用回波平面空间编码、并行成像策略和新颖的射频线圈设计。主要重点领域包括开发研究衰老和发育等正常过程的技术，以及与癌症、肌肉骨骼和广泛的神经疾病相关的转化研究。 公共卫生相关性：加州大学旧金山分校分子和功能成像中心支持大量全面和多方面的磁共振研究项目，这些项目正在应用新技术来表征人类疾病以及衰老和发育的正常过程。为了加强这些翻译研究，设备保持在现有技术的尖端是至关重要的。这项提案要求提供资金，以提供新的GE 750MR扫描仪，配备DNP偏振器，并具有执行高分辨率解剖、生理和功能成像的先进能力，与质子MR光谱成像和使用超极化C-13试剂的MR代谢成像相结合。这些能力将使研究人员能够在描述正常人类过程以及评估与疾病进展和治疗反应相关的异常方面获得显着的敏感性和特异性改进。在加州大学旧金山分校，这项补助金申请的发放将通过增加来自28名主要调查员的21份现有补助金和8份待定补助金，确保继续在研究小组工作、研究调查员的职业发展和新的就业机会。选择GE Discovery MR750系统支持旧金山大学的研究提议，将通过以下方式对美国经济复苏产生积极影响：维持美国的就业，推动采用新技术以提高护理质量和创造新的就业机会；以及积极的环境影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this proposal is to provide support to purchase an advanced 3T whole body MR scanner that includes new high-performance instrumentation for dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) and specialized components for acquiring cutting edge anatomic, physiological and metabolic imaging data. This is critical for supporting a large number of NIH funded research programs that are developing and translating new imaging strategies with increased sensitivity and specificity for the evaluation of novel therapeutics in pre-clinical and patient studies. The proposed scanner will replace and significantly enhance the capabilities of an existing research system that is unable to keep up with the hardware and software requirements of the new techniques that are being developed. The focus for the research that will use the new scanner is the development of high resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) of patients for translational, clinical- research applications. This is important for the implementation and evaluation of new methodologies, maintaining current funded projects and expanding the large number of highly successful MR research projects at UCSF. The proposed 3T scanner and accompanying hardware will support 21 active and 8 pending NIH research grants and technology development projects from 28 faculty and their collaborators. The specific aims for the research that will be performed on the system are as follows: 1) To provide a platform for translating new MR techniques into clinically relevant, FDA approved procedures that support studies in pre-clinical model systems and in patients. 2) To validate MR parameters that can be used as biomarkers for characterizing disease and assessing response to therapy. 3) To support research projects requiring serial MRI and H-1 MRSI measurements from patients being treated with novel therapies. 4) To investigate the applications of hyperpolarized C-13, P-31 and other multinuclear MRS techniques that use echo planar spatial encoding, parallel imaging strategies and novel rf coil designs. Major focus areas include the development of techniques for studying normal processes such as aging and development, and for translational research associated with cancer, musculoskeletal and a wide range of neurological diseases. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The Center for Molecular and Functional Imaging at UCSF supports a large number of comprehensive and multi-faceted Magnetic Resonance research projects that are applying novel technology to the characterization of human diseases and the normal processes of aging and development. In order to enhance these translational research studies, it is critical that the equipment is kept at the cutting edge of available technology. This proposal is requesting funds to provide a new GE 750MR scanner with a DNP polarizer and advanced capabilities for performing high resolution anatomic, physiological and functional imaging in conjunction with proton MR spectroscopic imaging and MR metabolic imaging with hyperpolarized C-13 agents. These capabilities will allow researchers to obtain significant improvements in sensitivity and specificity for characterizing normal human processes and for evaluating abnormalities associated with disease progression and response to therapy. At UCSF, award of this grant application would ensure the continued employment in research groups, career development of research investigators and new job opportunities by augmenting 21 current and 8 pending grants from 28 Principle Investigators. The selection of the GE Discovery MR750 system in support of the University of San Francisco's research proposal will have a positive impact on the United States economic recovery through: maintaining employment in the United States, driving adoption of new technology to improve quality of care and creation of new jobs; and positive environmental impacts.