Utah Small Animal MRI Research Resource

描述(由申请者提供)：这项提案要求获得资金，以购买一台高场强小动物磁共振成像(MRI)扫描仪，该扫描仪将构成犹他大学综合小动物磁共振设施的中心部件。该仪器是一台Bruker ClinScanZ B-C 70/30 USR(超屏蔽、冷藏)高分辨率成像系统。该系统的主要技术特征包括7.05特斯拉主动屏蔽磁体、30.2厘米磁净直径、能够达到300 mT/m的20.1厘米内径基面梯度系统、8通道1H光谱仪电子设备、西门子核磁共振控制台和活体成像附件。犹他大学在人类疾病的基因分析方面处于领先地位，在培育和研究具有靶向基因改变的小鼠方面一直处于领先地位。MRI的非侵入性和无与伦比的软组织对比度使其成为这些基因工程动物解剖和生理成像的首选方式。小动物的MRI成像面临着与高分辨率要求(例如，信噪比和空间分辨率权衡)和动物生理考虑(例如，高心率、运动)相关的技术挑战。此外，MR图像的定量解释通常需要复杂的后处理和分析(例如，3D可视化、配准)。这项提议的一个创新方面是，它将利用犹他大学正在进行的新颖和创新的MRI技术开发和图像显示/分析研究(主要由NIH资助)。拟议的核心核磁共振设施将利用犹他州高级成像研究中心(UCAIR)和科学计算与成像研究所(SCI)的优势。将这些技术资源整合到拟议的高场强小动物核磁共振成像设施的业务和组织基础设施中，将为其用户提供显著的增值效益。目前，犹他大学有几个由NIH资助的研究项目，它们利用有限形式的小动物MRI，还有更多由NIH资助的研究人员，他们有明确但未得到满足的小动物MRI需求。犹他州目前还没有专门的最新小型动物核磁共振扫描仪。因此，该工具将对美国国立卫生研究院资助的现有项目和在犹他大学及其他地方发起的新研究项目产生深远影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests funding to acquire a high field-strength small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, which will form the central component of a comprehensive small animal MRI facility at the University of Utah. The instrument proposed is a Bruker ClinScanZ B-C 70/30 USR (Ultra-Shielded, Refrigerated) high-resolution imaging system. Key technical features of the system include a 7.05 Tesla actively-shielded magnet, 30.2 cm magnetic clear bore size, a 20.1 cm inner-diameter base gradient system capable of 300 mT/m, 8-channel 1H spectrometer electronics, a Siemens MRI console, and in vivo imaging accessories. The University of Utah is a leader in genetic analysis of human disease and has been at the forefront in both generating and studying mice with targeted gene alterations. MRI's noninvasive nature and unparalleled soft-tissue contrast have made it a modality of choice for anatomical and physiological imaging of these genetically engineered animals. MRI imaging in small animals faces technical challenges related to requirements for high-resolution (e.g., SNR and spatial resolution tradeoff) and animal physiological considerations (e.g., high heart rates, motion). Moreover, quantitative interpretation of MR images often necessitates sophisticated post-processing and analysis (e.g., 3D visualization, registration). An innovative aspect of this proposal is that it will take advantage of the novel and innovative MRI technology development and image display/analysis research (largely funded by NIH) ongoing at the University of Utah. The proposed core MRI facility will leverage the strengths of the Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research (UCAIR) and Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute (SCI). The integration of these technical resources in the operation and organizational infrastructure of the proposed high-field strength small animal imaging MRI facility will provide significant value-added benefits to its users. There are several NIH funded research projects at the University of Utah that currently utilize limited forms of small animal MRI, and many more NIH funded investigators that have clear but unmet small animal MRI needs. There is currently no dedicated up-to-date small animal MRI scanner in the state of Utah. Consequently, the instrument will have a profound impact on existing NIH funded projects and initiating new research projects at the University of Utah and beyond.