Shared Instrumentation Grant: Micro UltraSound

描述（由申请人提供）：动物模型的体内成像是任何最新医学研究的基础。近年来，从光学成像、微型PET、微型CT、微型超声到基于微型MRI的技术，微型成像模式的技术创新呈爆炸式增长。每一种方法都有自己的长处和短处，每一种方法都在研究中发挥着特定的作用。显微超声是筛选动物模型的最通用、最快速的方法之一。我们建议获得一个动物微型超声系统能够成像啮齿动物，兔子和其他小动物。具体而言，我们打算从Visualsonics收购Vevo 2100微型超声系统。该仪器的目的是使我们研究所的研究人员能够研究疾病标志物、转基因动物的形态学，研究临床前药物开发或其他治疗策略，检测疾病的生物标志物，并开发新的基于超声的造影剂来研究各种疾病机制。我们的研究所目前安装了一台Bruker 9.4 T啮齿动物MRI。该系统几乎全天候运行，为许多啮齿动物项目提供服务。我们还订购了设备齐全的Bruker Biospec 7 T 30 cm微型MRI，并将于2010年秋季安装。我们还操作Xenogen IVIS 200体内光学扫描仪，该扫描仪在共享研究设施机制下进行生物发光和荧光扫描。所有这些系统都为西奈山研究社区提供多种应用。MRI是一种高分辨率/对比度成像模式，但需要相对较长的成像时间;光学成像速度快，靶向细胞水平的功能信号，但不具有MRI的分辨率，需要对靶细胞进行轻微修改以纳入光学探针。微型超声在其获得高分辨率和真实的时间解剖学以及功能成像数据的能力方面是独一无二的，具有高通量能力。我们目前有几个NIH赠款，包括R 01，P01和P50等，涉及心血管，肝脏，肿瘤等疾病的动物模型。这些项目可以从快速筛查和其他成像的微型超声能力中受益匪浅。事实上，我们研究所有几个项目目前在研究中使用微超声，但在其他研究所进行，因为我们没有这种模式。微型超声在任何转化研究中都是必不可少的，大多数医学研究中心或制药公司都使用它。以下是我们医疗中心附近使用微型超声的实验室列表：纪念斯隆凯特林，Regeneron，洛克菲勒大学，冷泉港实验室，康奈尔大学，威尔康奈尔医学中心，康奈尔医学中心，耶鲁大学，哥伦比亚大学，UMDNJ，纽约大学市中心和燕尾服公园，库珀健康，阿尔伯特爱因斯坦医学院，诺华，罗切斯特大学，纽约州立大学石溪分校，奥尔巴尼医学院，诺华，康涅狄格大学，默克研究实验室，勃林格殷格翰，拜耳制药，辉瑞，ARMGO制药。 公共卫生相关性：疾病的动物模型在医学研究中至关重要。微超声允许研究人员使用小动物疾病模型，使用高分辨率形态成像（例如肿瘤生长）或微血管血流（例如心血管研究）快速筛选它们。 快速筛查可以更快地发现新的治疗策略。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In-vivo imaging of animal models is the foundation of any state of the art medical research. Recent years have seen an explosion of technological innovations in micro imaging modalities from optical imaging, micro PET, micro CT, micro ultrasound to micro MRI based technologies. Each of these modalities has its own strength and weakness and each serves a particular niche in the research. Micro ultrasound is one of the most versatile and rapid modality for screening of animal models. We propose to acquire an animal micro ultrasound system capable of imaging rodents, rabbits and other small animals. Specifically we intend to acquire the Vevo 2100 micro ultrasound system from Visualsonics. The purpose of this instrument is to allow researchers at our institute to study morphology of disease markers, genetically modified animals, study preclinical drug development or other treatment strategies, detect biomarkers of disease and to develop new ultrasound based contrast agents to study various disease mechanisms. Our research institute currently has one Bruker 9.4 T rodent MRI installed. This system runs almost 24/7 and serves many rodent projects. We have also on order and NCRR funded fully equipped Bruker Biospec 7T 30cm micro MRI to be installed fall 2010. We also operate a Xenogen IVIS200 in-vivo optical scanner which performs bioluminescent and fluorescent scanner under a shared research facility mechanism. All these systems serve the Mount Sinai research community for multiple applications. MRI is a high resolution/contrast imaging modality but requires a relatively long imaging time; optical imaging is fast and targets functional signals at the cellular level but does not have the resolution of MRI and requires slight modification of target cells to incorporate the optical probe. Micro Ultrasound is unique in its ability to obtain high resolution and real time anatomical as well as functional imaging data with high throughput capabilities. We currently have several NIH grants including R01s, P01s, and P50s etc. that involve animal models of disease including cardiovascular, liver, tumor and more. These projects could benefit tremendously from the ability to perform micro ultrasound for rapid screening and other imaging. As a matter of fact, there are several projects at our institute that currently use micro ultrasound in the research but are performed at other institutes because we do not have this modality. Micro ultrasound is so essential in any translational research that most medical research centers or pharmaceutical companies make use of one. Below is a list of laboratories in the neighborhood of our medical center that make use of micro ultrasound: Memorial Sloan Kettering, Regeneron, Rockefeller University, Cold Spring Harbor Lab, Cornell University, Weill Cornell Medical Center, Cornell Medical Center, Yale University, Columbia University, UMDNJ, NYU Downtown and Tuxedo Park, Cooper Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Novartis, University of Rochester,SUNY Stonybrook, Albany Medical College, Novartis, University of Connecticut, Merck Research Labs, Boehringer- Ingelheim, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, ARMGO Pharmaceutical. Public Health Relevance: Animal models of disease are essential in medical research. Micro ultrasound allows researchers with small animal models of disease to rapidly screen them using high resolution morphological imaging (e.g. Tumor growth)or micro vascular blood flow (e.g. Cardiovascular research). Rapid screening allow faster discovery of new treatment strategies.