CT/SPECT/PET imaging system for small animal studies

描述（由申请人提供）：基因组学和蛋白质组学的最新进展促进了新策略的发展，这些新策略显著影响了我们对各种疾病的理解，同时促进了用于诊断和治疗许多疾病的新药和化合物的发现。获得小动物成像资源是必不可少的，使我们能够更好地了解疾病，以及表征和解释的有效性和安全性的有前途的诊断和治疗干预措施，是从基因组学和蛋白质组学的革命。多模态成像系统使研究人员能够使用单个平台从小动物模型获取PET、SPECT和CT图像，已被证明通过表征和对比正常和患病组织的代谢、运输、功能和结构，通过使用小动物模型，对于更好地理解许多疾病非常有用。在德克萨斯大学医学分支（UTMB）的生物医学工程中心（CBME），我们致力于开发和整合新型和新兴的成像，筛查和传感技术到我们的研究设施中，以提供开发新的诊断和治疗方法所需的资源和专业知识。UTMB目前没有用于小动物成像的MIRCO-PET、CT或SPECT成像系统。本提案的目的是获得一个高分辨率全身成像系统，该系统将补充德克萨斯大学医学分支CBME内目前可用的成像资源，旨在为NIH资助的研究者提供最先进的高分辨率PET、CT和SPECT系统，用于小动物成像。所要求的仪器将作为CBME的一部分位于新的研究设施中，并将由UTMB研究人员用于癌症，神经科学和神经退行性疾病，成瘾和烧伤的诊断和治疗研究。借助所要求的多模态成像系统，我们可以进行高分辨率的非侵入性分子、功能和解剖成像研究，并重建3D图像，以研究小动物模型中各种疾病的治疗和进展。UTMB内部的四个主要研究中心之间建立了合作伙伴关系，以促进收购Gamma Medica-Ideas，Inc.销售的FLEX Triumph”三模态系统。并为成像设备的放置、操作和维护建立组织和行政基础设施。该机构已作出重大承诺，提供购买仪器所需的配套资金、个人工资支持、成像系统的维护和成像设备的存放空间。这项技术的获得将直接支持并进一步增强旨在了解和开发各种人类疾病疗法的研究。这些努力具有重大和可推广的公共卫生利益。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Recent advances in genomics and proteomics have cultivated the development of novel strategies that are significantly impacting our understanding of various diseases while facilitating the discovery of new drugs and compounds for diagnosis and treatment of many disorders. Access to small animal imaging resources is essential to enable us to develop a better understanding of diseases as well as the characterization and interpretation of the efficacy and safety of promising diagnostic and therapeutic interventions that are emerging from the revolution in genomics and proteomics. Multi-modal imaging systems that enable investigators to acquire PET, SPECT and CT images from small animal model using a single platform have proven to be highly useful for the development of a better understanding of many diseases through the use of small animal models by characterizing and contrasting the metabolic, transport, function and structure of normal and diseased tissue. At the Center for Biomedical Engineering (CBME) at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), we strive to develop and integrate novel and emerging imaging, screening and sensing technologies into our research facility in order to provide the resources and expertise that are needed to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO MIRCO-PET, CT OR SPECT IMAGING SYSTEMS FOR SMALL ANIMAL IMAGING AT UTMB. The objective of this proposal is to acquire a high resolution whole body imaging system that will complement the imaging resources that are currently available within CBME at the University of Texas Medical Branch with the goal of providing NIH- funded investigators access to the state-of-the-art high resolution PET, CT and SPECT system for small animal imaging. The requested instrument will be located in new research facility as part of CBME and will be utilized by UTMB investigators to conduct research in diagnosis and treatment of cancer, neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases, addiction and burn injury. With the requested multi-modal imaging system we can perform high resolution non-invasive molecular, functional and anatomical imaging studies and reconstruct 3D images to study treatment and progression of various diseases in small animal models. A partnership among four major research centers within UTMB has been established to facilitate the acquisition of The FLEX Triumph" Tri-modality System marketed by Gamma Medica-Ideas, Inc. and to develop the organizational and administrative infrastructure for placement, operation and maintenance of the imaging equipment. The institution has made significant commitment to provide matching funds needed to acquire the instrument, salary support for personal, maintenance of the imaging system and space for housing the imaging equipment. Acquisition of this technology will directly support and further empower research aimed at understanding and developing therapies for a broad array of human diseases. These efforts are of great and generalizable public health interest.