7-Tesla MR Micro-imaging Console

描述（由申请人提供）： 使用基因靶向和转基因插入在小鼠中进行遗传操作，现在是研究发育过程和模拟人类疾病的流行方法。虽然改变小鼠遗传组成的技术不断完善并得到更广泛的应用，但我们快速有效地分析突变小鼠表型的能力已成为许多研究中的限制性步骤。纽约大学医学院的小鼠成像设施采用超声和磁共振（MR）显微成像方法来分析从早期胚胎到成年发育阶段的各种小鼠模型的解剖，功能和分子变化。在Skirball生物分子医学研究所和纽约大学癌症研究所的联合赞助下，纽约大学医学院的小鼠成像设施有着悠久的支持历史。在此申请中，我们要求资金支付购买新的最先进的MR控制台的费用，使我们的7特斯拉MR微成像系统达到当前标准，并使我们能够继续支持一系列需要小鼠MRI的NIH资助项目。这一升级是完全合理的，因为控制台和辅助设备已经使用了七年多，大多数子系统已经过时，难以或不可能维修/更换。目前利用MR显微成像的研究项目包括分析心脏和大脑发育缺陷小鼠的发育和功能异常，检测转基因小鼠模型中的多发性硬化病变，使用灌注MRI和MR光谱分析小鼠模型中的肿瘤进展，以及针对淀粉样蛋白的MR造影剂在阿尔茨海默病转基因小鼠模型中用于斑块检测和监测的开发和应用。Mouse Imaging Facility中MR微成像控制台的升级将确保这些创新和关键的小鼠MRI应用将继续提供给NIH资助的研究人员。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Genetic manipulation in the mouse, using gene targeting and transgene insertions, is now a prevalent method for studying developmental processes and for modeling human diseases. While techniques to alter the genetic makeup of the mouse continue to be refined and used more widely, our ability to rapidly and effectively analyze mutant mouse phenotypes has become the limiting step in many investigations. The Mouse Imaging Facility at NYU School of Medicine employs both ultrasound and magnetic resonance (MR) micro-imaging approaches to analyze anatomical, functional and molecular changes in a wide variety of mouse models, from early embryonic to adult stages of development. There is a long history of support for the Mouse Imaging Facility at NYU School of Medicine, under the joint sponsorship of the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine and the NYU Cancer Institute. In this application, we request funds to cover the costs of purchasing a new state-of-the-art MR console, bringing our 7-Tesla MR Micro-imaging system up to current standards, and allowing us to continue to support a broad set of NIH-funded projects requiring mouse MRI. This upgrade is well justified, since the console and ancillary equipment are over seven years old, and most of the subsystems are obsolete and difficult or impossible to repair/replace. The research projects currently utilizing MR micro-imaging include analysis of developmental and functional abnormalities in mice with defects in heart and brain development, detection of Multiple Sclerosis lesions in a transgenic mouse model, analysis of tumor progression in mouse models using perfusion MRI and MR spectroscopy, and the development and application of MR contrast reagents targeted to amyloid for plaque detection and monitoring in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's Disease. The upgrade of the MR micro-imaging console in the Mouse Imaging Facility will ensure that these innovative and critical applications of mouse MRI will continue to be available to this strong group of NIH-funded investigators.