7T MRI Scanner for Small Animals/Developmental Disorders

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请申请资金购买一台7.0 Tesla MRI扫描仪，用于发育障碍动物模型的微成像研究。具体来说，我们申请160万美元用于购买布鲁克Biospec/Avance 70/30系统。该MRI系统基于一个主动屏蔽的7T磁铁，内径30厘米，可以容纳梯度插入，能够对小鼠，大鼠和大型动物进行磁共振微成像。本提案中总结的项目重点介绍了一些主要合作者及其使用7T MR微成像系统的计划。请注意，这组7个主要用户（在关键人员下面列出）作为主要研究者持有超过18个NIH拨款（R01， P01或K08）。至少有另外6名NIH资助的研究人员参与了成像研究中心（IRC）的初步磁共振微成像研究，或表示有兴趣使用拟议的仪器进行研究。IRC在布鲁克Biospec/Avance 30/ 60,3.0 Tesla人类头部MRI扫描仪的成功操作方面有7年的经验。目前的提案利用IRC现有的基础设施和专业知识来支持拟议的7T扫描仪，从而利用规模经济来减少新系统的增量运营成本。IRC利用现有的带有高场强梯度嵌套的3T人头部扫描仪，对转基因小鼠、转基因大鼠、自身免疫性关节炎症小鼠模型和其他动物模型以及过热乳剂室辐射剂量计进行了初步的微成像研究。7特斯拉仪器加上微成像配件的附加场强将使NIH资助的几项遗传和发育障碍动物模型研究受益于评估生物机制的无创成像方法。最后，值得注意的是，儿童医院研究基金会（CHRF）的主要研究重点涉及儿童疾病，包括遗传性疾病、发育性疾病和儿童时期出现的其他疾病。研究计划中总结的MR微成像研究大多描述了儿童疾病的动物模型研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests funds to purchase a 7.0 Tesla MRI scanner for use in microimaging investigations of animal models of developmental disorders. Specifically, we are requesting $1.6M to purchase a Bruker Biospec/Avance 70/30 system. This MRI system is based upon an actively shielded 7T magnet with 30 cm inner bore diameter which can accommodate gradient inserts capable of MR microimaging of mice, rats, and larger animals. The projects summarized in this proposal highlight some of the key collaborators and their plans to use the 7T MR microimaging system. Note that this group of seven primary users (listed below under key personnel) holds more than 18 NIH grants (R01, P01, or K08) as principal investigator. At least 6 additional NIH funded investigators have been involved in preliminary MR microimaging studies with the Imaging Research Center (IRC) or expressed interest in doing so using the proposed instrument. The IRC has seven years of experience with the successful operation of a Bruker Biospec/Avance 30/60, 3.0 Tesla human head MRI scanner. The current proposal makes use of the existing infrastructure and expertise available within the IRC to support the proposed 7T scanner, thereby utilizing an economy of scale to reduce the incremental operating costs of the new system. The IRC has utilized the existing 3T human head scanner with a high field strength gradient insert to conduct preliminary microimaging studies in transgenic mice, transgenic rats, mouse models of autoimmune joint inflammation, and other animal models as well as a superheated emulsion chamber radiation dosimeter. The added field strength of the 7 Tesla instrument together with microimaging accessories will allow several NIH funded investigations of animal models of genetic and developmental disorders to benefit from noninvasive imaging methods for assessing biological mechanisms. Finally, it is worth noting that the primary focus of research at Children's Hospital Research Foundation (CHRF) involves pediatric disorders including genetic disorders, developmental disorders, and other diseases that present during childhood. Most of the MR microimaging studies summarized in the research plan describe studies of pediatric disorders in animal models.