Ultra High Field (16.4 Tesla) Animal MRI/MRS System

描述(申请人提供)：本申请寻求部分支持配备超高磁场的磁共振成像(MRI)和波谱(MRS)仪器，用于动物模型的活体研究。拟建的动物MRI/MRS仪器将基于一台水平16.4T磁体，净内径为26厘米，这将是国内第一台此类仪器。它将设在磁共振研究中心(CMRR)，以利用已经到位的高场磁共振专业知识和基础设施，并得到美国国立卫生研究院的支持。这一超高场磁共振系统将支持和加强在生物技术研究资源基金(P41 RR008079)、神经科学核心中心基金(P30 NS057091)以及由R01和其他基金资助的许多项目中进行的研究。在其众多新功能中，这一独特的16.4T磁共振系统将提供更高的空间分辨率(例如，用于对小鼠的阿尔茨海默氏症斑块进行成像)、更高的空间分辨率和功能磁共振成像(例如，用于绘制大脑中的功能结构)以及更高的灵敏度和MRS的生化信息(例如，用于了解大脑功能和能量代谢之间的耦合)。 公共卫生相关性：定量成像对于了解所有类型的脑部疾病是必不可少的。在活体内，MRS和MRI对目前对正常和疾病大脑的了解做出了重大贡献，但可实现的灵敏度和分辨率(空间和光谱)受到磁场强度的限制。所提出的MRI/MRS仪器将提供比以前的在体MR系统显著增加的磁场(16.4T)，因此，将在正常大脑和疾病模型的研究中产生新的结构、功能和生化信息。这些知识，加上将要开发的先进的MRI和MRS技术，将为新型治疗剂的临床前试验提供宝贵的工具，并最终为临床上早期发现疾病和指导治疗提供有价值的工具。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application seeks partial support for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) instrument equipped with an ultrahigh magnetic field for in vivo studies of animal models. The proposed animal MRI/MRS instrument will be based on a horizontal 16.4 T magnet having a clear bore diameter of 26 cm, which will be the first of its kind in the nation. It will be located in the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), to take advantage of the high field MR expertise and infrastructure already in place and supported by the NIH. This ultrahigh field MR system will support and enhance research being conducted within a Biotechnology Research Resource grant (P41 RR008079), a Neuroscience Core Center grant (P30 NS057091), and numerous projects funded by R01 and other grants. Among its many new capabilities, this unique 16.4T MR system will provide increased spatial resolution (e.g., for imaging Alzheimer's plaques in mice), increased spatial resolution and specificity in fMRI (e.g., for mapping functional structures in the brain), and increased sensitivity and biochemical information in MRS (e.g., for understanding the coupling between brain function and energy metabolism). PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Quantitative imaging is essential to understanding all types of brain diseases. In vivo MRS and MRI has contributed significantly to the current knowledge of normal and diseased brain, but the achievable sensitivity and resolution (spatial and spectral) are limited by the strength of the magnetic field. The proposed MRI/MRS instrument will offer a substantially increased magnetic field (16.4 T) over previous in vivo MR systems, and thus, will yield new structural, functional, and biochemical information in studies of normal brain and disease models. This knowledge, together with the advanced MRI and MRS techniques to be developed, will offer valuable tools for preclinical trials of novel therapeutic agents, and ultimately, for early disease detection and guiding treatments in the clinic.