Whole body composition analysis for live animals

EchoMRI测量小型活体动物和分离器官组织的全身成分(例如脂肪质量、瘦身质量、全身水分)。这些测量对于表明脂肪在全身和器官中的积累很重要。重要的是，EchoMRI使用的技术允许以非侵入性方式获得这些测量结果，并且不会对动物造成压力。它非常容易使用，每次扫描都在90秒内完成。这些用户友好和非侵入性的特征特别重要，因为我们的研究计划涉及纵向研究，必须在很长一段时间内对同一动物进行重复测量。这是一个中等档案柜大小的独立装置，位于脚轮上，因此很容易移动，不需要辐射屏蔽、冷却或电力等额外要求来安全操作。这表明所有合作用户都可以很容易地访问它。*EchoMRI对于我们完成联邦和省资助的研究项目至关重要。脂肪的异常积聚或瘦体重的减少会对动物的健康产生重大影响。我们将使用这些测量来确定调节发育、生长、压力和动机行为的内部(生物)和外部(饮食或环境毒素)因素。同时，我们还将能够确定异常是否仅归因于某些器官。这增加了我们调查结果的精确度和准确性。*我们是一支高素质的研究团队，具有使用EchoMRI的经验，我们还拥有专门的设施和实验室经理，负责EchoMRI的计划、培训和维护。我们预计将有50多名学员接受该仪器的实践培训，通过这样做，他们将能够简化他们的工作流程，并获得更准确和可靠的肥胖和身体成分的直接测量。这是一种尖端和创新的仪器，是当前的行业标准。我们的HQP将获得身临其境的全面经验，提升他们的培训，使他们在学术界或行业的工作岗位上保持竞争力。**

The EchoMRI measures whole body composition (e.g. fat mass, lean body mass, total body water) in small live animals and isolated organ tissues. These measurements are important for indicating fat accumulation in the whole body, as well as in organs. Importantly, the EchoMRI uses technology that allows these measurements to be obtained non-invasively and without causing stress to the animals. It is very easy to use and each scan is completed within 90 seconds. These user-friendly and non-invasive features are especially important because our research program involves longitudinal studies where repeated measurements must be taken from the same animal over a long time period. It is a stand-alone unit about the size of a medium filing cabinet, sits on casters so it is easy to move around and it does not require additional requirements like radiation shielding, cooling or electrical power to operate it safely. This indicates that it will be readily accessible for all collaborating users.******The EchoMRI is vital for us to complete our federally and provincially funded research programs. Abnormal fat accumulation or loss of lean body mass have significant impact on the well-being of an animal. We will be using these measurements to identify internal (biological) and external (diet or environmental toxins) factors that regulate development, growth, stress, and motivated behaviors. In parallel, we will also be able to identify whether abnormalities are attributed only to certain organs. This adds to the precision and accuracy of our findings. ******We are a high caliber team of researchers who have experience using the EchoMRI and we also have dedicated facility and lab managers that will be responsible for the scheduling, training, and maintenance of the EchoMRI. We expect that more than 50 trainees will gain hands-on training on this instrument and by doing so, they will be able to streamline their workflow and obtain direct measures of adiposity and body composition that are more accurate and reliable. This is a cutting-edge and innovative instrument that is the current industry standard. Our HQP will gain immersive and comprehensive experience that elevates their training so they may remain competitive for job positions in academia or industry. **