Small Animal 7.0 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy System

描述（由申请人提供）：在本提案中，要求为7.0特斯拉30 cm孔径磁共振成像和光谱系统提供资金，该系统旨在对小动物进行成像。该系统将是康奈尔大学威尔医学院的第一个小动物磁共振成像系统，并将满足疾病动物模型开发的关键需求。我们对转基因小鼠的高分辨率解剖和功能成像特别感兴趣，目前还没有适合于该目的的磁共振系统可供威尔医学院的研究人员使用。具体项目将由11个独立的NIH赞助的主要用户进行，共有14个R 01，一个P01和一个U 01赠款在学院将包括1）白血病和淋巴瘤的疾病分期和治疗监测，2）发育中大脑的功能和解剖成像，3）帕金森病和亨廷顿病的磁共振波谱，4）维甲酸药理学及其在肿瘤学中的应用，5）Batten病的基因治疗，6）脑源性神经营养因子的功能分析，以及7）神经营养因子和8）内皮细胞前体在新血管生成中的研究。我们的转基因小鼠设施将为这些项目提供动物。拟议中的仪器将设在我们成立两年的生物医学成像研究中心。这个独立的设施目前拥有一个3.0特斯拉MRI系统和全身PET/CT系统，用于人类受试者，以及一个小动物PET系统。人体系统致力于应用开发和临床研究。增加小动物MRI/MRS系统将是现有扫描仪的理想补充，并大大促进从小动物到人类的转化研究。更重要的是，它将加强我们感兴趣的领域的转基因小鼠疾病模型的评估。新仪器的空间已经存在于我们的成像中心，因为未来的扩建是2001年原始建筑的计划组成部分。一个完善的和财政支持的行政结构作为生物医学成像核心设施已经到位，以管理系统并满足研究者的需求，包括本提案中列出的小动物成像项目。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In this proposal, funds are requested for a 7.0 Tesla 30 cm bore magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy system designed for imaging small animals. This system would be the first small animal magnetic resonance imaging system at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, and would satisfy a critical need in the development of animal models of disease. We have a particular interest in high- resolution anatomical and functional imaging of transgenic mice, and there currently is no magnetic resonance system suitable for that purpose that is accessible to Weill Medical College investigators. Specific projects to be undertaken by eleven independent NIH sponsored major users with a total of fourteen R01, one P01, and one U01 grants at the College will include 1) disease staging and therapeutic monitoring of leukemia and lymphoma, 2) functional and anatomical imaging of the developing brain, 3) magnetic resonance spectroscopy of Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, 4) retinoid pharmacology and its applications in oncology, 5) gene therapy for Batten's disease, 6) functional analysis of brain derived neurotrophic factor, and investigation of 7) neurotrophins and 8) endothelial cell precursors in neoangiogenesis. Our transgenic mouse facility will provide animals for these projects. The proposed instrument would be sited at our two-year old Biomedical Imaging Research Center. This stand-alone facility currently houses both a 3.0 Tesla MRI system and whole-body PET/CT system for human subjects, as well as a small animal PET system. The human systems are dedicated to applications development and clinical research. The addition of a small animal MRI/MRS system would be the ideal complement to existing scanners and greatly facilitate translational research from small animals to humans. More importantly, it would enhance the assessment of transgenic mouse models of disease in our areas of interest. Space for the new instrument already exists in our Imaging Center, as future expansion was a planned component of the original build-out of the property in 2001. A well-established and financially supported administrative structure is in place as a Biomedical Imaging Core Facility to manage the system and serve the needs of investigators with projects involving small animal imaging as listed in this proposal.