VisualSonics Vevo LAZR High-Resolution In Vivo Micro-Imaging System

描述(由申请人提供)：本申请的目标是为德克萨斯大学安德森癌症中心(MDACC)的研究人员提供一种小型动物光声成像系统，为他们提供必要的手段和资源，以进一步开展他们的多学科研究。Vevo(R)LAZR是一种高分辨率的光声/超声波微成像系统，能够对小动物(如小鼠和大鼠)进行活体实时成像。MDACC是一大批由NIH资助的研究人员的所在地，他们进行基础研究和转化研究，所有这些都是为了消除癌症。这些研究人员共同覆盖了广泛和互补的研究领域，专注于基础科学和将实验室发现转化为临床实践。目前，MDACC还没有配备能够对这些研究中广泛使用的小动物进行功能、生理和分子成像的光声成像系统。这项申请的具体目的是获得Vevo(R)LAZR光声和超声波成像系统，使研究人员能够进行与癌症有关的基础科学和应用研究项目。总体而言，这项应用的主要研究人员和关键人员致力于确保这里介绍的新光声成像技术成为MDACC提供的研究工具的有效补充。在这一应用中，我们为许多正在进行研究的NIH资助的主要用户提供服务，这些研究将从Vevo(R)LAZR成像系统的采购中获得直接和显著的好处。此外，该成像仪将被纳入我们的小动物成像设施(SAIF)提供的资源套件中，这是一个由我们的癌症中心支持拨款(CA16672，Pi-J.Mendelsohn)部分资助的机构研究机构。新的研究人员--无论是来自MDACC内部的还是来自大德克萨斯医学中心研究社区的--未来也将受益于这一强大的小动物成像选项。 公共卫生相关性：对小动物的解剖、功能和分子成像使科学家和工程师能够使用动物模型了解人类疾病的病理生理过程。这种非侵入性、实时、高分辨率的Vevo(R)LAZR光声和超声显微成像系统可以为研究人员提供一种有效地检查活体动物极其微小的生理结构的方法。具体地说，在M.D.安德森癌症中心，该系统的新光声成像能力将为科学家提供一种在体内研究癌症病理生理学的手段，并更有效地开发癌症诊断和治疗方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this application is to provide the investigators from University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) with a small animal photoacoustic imaging system that will afford them with the necessary means and resources to further their multidisciplinary research. The Vevo(R) LAZR, a high-resolution, photoacoustic/ultrasonic, micro-imaging system is capable of in vivo, real-time imaging of small animals such as mice and rats. MDACC is the home of a large group of NIH-funded investigators conducting fundamental studies and translational research, all with the ultimate goal of eliminating cancer. Together, these investigators cover large and complementary research territories focusing their efforts on basic science and the translation of laboratory discoveries to clinical practice. Currently, MDACC is not equipped with a system capable of photoacoustic imaging to conduct functional, physiological, and molecular imaging of small animals widely used in these studies. The specific aim of this application is to acquire the Vevo(R) LAZR photoacoustic and ultrasonic imaging system to enable investigators to conduct basic science and applied research projects related to cancer. Overall, the principal investigator and key personnel in this application are committed to ensuring that the new photoacoustic imaging technology presented herein becomes a fruitful addition to the research tools offered at MDACC. In this application, we offer numerous NIH-funded major users who are conducting research studies that would enjoy immediate and significant benefit from the procurement of a Vevo(R) LAZR imaging system. Additionally, the imager will be incorporated into the suite of resources offered by our Small Animal Imaging Facility (SAIF), an institutional research facility partially supported by our Cancer Center Support Grant (CA16672, PI - J. Mendelsohn). New investigators - both from within MDACC and from the greater Texas Medical Center research community - will also benefit in the future from this powerful small animal imaging option. 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, real-time, high-resolution Vevo(r) LAZR photoacoustic and ultrasonic micro-imaging system can provide researchers with a method to efficiently examine extremely small physiological structures in a living animal. Specifically, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, this system's new photoacoustic imaging capability will provide scientists with a means to investigate the pathophysiology of cancer in vivo and more effectively develop cancer diagnosis and treatment methods.