Anatomical, Functional, and Molecular Imaging using Vevo 2100 Ultrasound Scanner

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请的目的是为德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的研究人员提供一个小型动物成像系统，该系统将为进一步开展多学科研究提供必要的手段和资源。该仪器是一台高分辨率的Vevo 2100超声微成像系统，能够对小动物（如小鼠和大鼠）进行活体实时成像。德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校是美国国立卫生研究院资助的一大批从事基础研究和转化研究的研究人员的所在地。这些调查人员来自科克雷尔工程学院、自然科学学院、药学院和文科学院。目前，德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校还没有配备最先进的设备来对我们研究中广泛使用的小动物进行解剖、功能、生理和分子成像，尽管大量的科学家迫切需要获得小动物成像设施。因此，本次申请的具体目的是获得Vevo 2100超声成像系统，使研究人员能够开展从癌症生物学到心血管疾病，从研究疾病到寻找病理治疗，从开发新的成像方法到构建设备等基础科学和应用研究项目。总的来说，本项目的主要研究者和关键人员致力于进一步了解科学和技术。这些研究人员共同覆盖了大型和互补的研究领域，重点关注基础科学和将实验室发现转化为临床实践。这个项目，更重要的是，这个独特的仪器汇集了具有不同但互补的概念方法的研究人员，从而丰富了科学和技术领域。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this application is to provide the investigators from the University of Texas at Austin with a small animal imaging system that will provide the necessary means and resources to further their multi- disciplinary research. The instrument, a high resolution Vevo 2100 Ultrasound Micro-Imaging System, is capable of in-vivo, real-time imaging of small animals such as mice and rats. The University of Texas at Austin is the home of a large group of NIH-funded investigators conducting fundamental studies and translational research. These investigators are associated with departments from the Cockrell School of Engineering, the College of Natural Sciences, the College of Pharmacy and the College of Liberal Arts. Currently, the University of Texas at Austin is not equipped with the state-of-the-art equipment to conduct anatomical, functional, physiological and molecular imaging of small animals widely used in our studies, despite the large number of scientists that have an overwhelming need to have access to small animal imaging facilities. Therefore, the specific aim of this application is to acquire the Vevo 2100 ultrasound imaging system to enable investigators to conduct basic science and applied research projects ranging from cancer biology to cardiovascular disease, from studying the disease to finding the cure for the pathology, from development of new imaging methods to building the devices, etc. Overall, the principal investigator and the key personnel in this application are committed to further their understanding of the science and technology. Together, these investigators cover large and complementary research territories focusing their efforts on basic science and the translation of laboratory discoveries to clinical practice. The project and, more importantly, the unique instrument bring together researchers that have different, yet complementary conceptual approaches, and thereby enrich both the fields of science and technology. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The anatomical, functional and molecular imaging of small animals allows scientists and engineers to understand the pathophysiological processes of human diseases using animal models. The non-invasive, realtime, high-resolution Vevo 2100 ultrasound micro-imaging system can provide researchers with a method to efficiently examine extremely small physiological structures. Furthermore, the Vevo 2100 is capable of imaging in real-time with near-microscopic resolution. Finally, morphological, physiological and molecular imaging is possible using the Vevo 2100. Therefore, acquiring the small animal imager, such as the Vevo 2100, will support multi-disciplinary biomedical research at the University of Texas at Austin.