Combined Optical/Micro-CT Scanner

描述(由申请人提供)：我们建议为肯尼迪·克里格研究所(KKI)的F.M.柯比研究中心购买一台多模生命内成像系统(IVIS)/Micro-CT扫描仪。这种光学-微型CT扫描仪可以在一个专为高吞吐量设计的单一集成单元中执行生物发光和荧光成像以及光谱成像、光谱分解和3D光学层析成像。KKI和约翰霍普金斯大学(JHU)目前还没有这样的仪器。拟议的最先进的光学-显微CT扫描仪是为了满足KKI和约翰·霍普金斯大学的26个动物研究小组的需求，他们目前有27个由NIH资助的项目，这些项目有几个目标，可以从该设备提供的改进的技术能力中受益匪浅。F.M.柯比中心成立于1999年，提供最先进的技术和独特的MRI专业知识，促进马里兰州和美国各地几个机构的科学家进行生物医学MRI研究。该中心最初仅用于人类研究，现已进行了大规模扩建，建立了一个新的动物成像中心，在其核心功能基础上增加了分子、细胞和功能成像设施，作为KKI和JHU的资源。目标是在一个组合的环境中进行基础研究和人类应用，以促进技术有效地转化为临床。动物成像中心刚刚建成，在一个干净的设施中提供了最先进的横孔11.7T和垂直孔17.6T高分辨率磁共振扫描仪，可以将动物从JHU带进并送回清洁的过夜住所。然而，它目前缺乏实现新中心全部研究潜力所需的光学/微型CT成像单元。这项拟议的器械将为用户提供以下好处：1)集成的Micro-CT系统，可以对所有光学图像进行精确的3D解剖联合配准；2)集成的动物(摇篮)臂，可以直接插入水平孔11.7T MRI扫描仪，而不需要重新定位动物。这将促进光学和CT图像与MRI的联合配准，将我们的成像工具箱扩展到三种模式；以及3)安装在干净的设施内但不在障碍物后面的拟议仪器将允许对往返于专门实验室的动物进行重复成像，例如用于电生理测量和显微手术。 与公共健康相关：我们建议购买一种新的动物扫描仪，它可以根据荧光和生物发光产生光学图像，以及通过计算机断层扫描(CT)产生3D放射图像。光学/微型CT组合扫描仪将成为现有动物磁共振成像设施的一部分，并使NIH资助的27个项目受益，这些项目将使用新扫描仪以非侵入性方式询问生物事件，用于多种疾病的研究，包括癌症、中风、脑损伤、精神分裂症和糖尿病。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose to purchase a multimodality intravital imaging system (IVIS)/micro-CT scanner for the F.M. Kirby Research Center at the Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI). This combined optical-micro CT scanner can perform bioluminescent and fluorescent imaging as well as spectral imaging, spectral unmixing, and 3D optical tomographic Imaging in a single integrated unit that is designed for high throughput. No such instrument is presently available at KKI and Johns Hopkins University (JHU). The proposed state-of-the-art optical-micro CT scanner is needed to address the needs of 26 animal researcher groups at the KKI and Johns Hopkins University, who presently have 27 NIH-funded projects with several aims that can strongly benefit from the improved technical capabilities provided by this equipment. The F.M. Kirby Center, which opened in 1999, provides state-of-the-art technology and unique MRI expertise to facilitate the biomedical MRI research of scientists at several institutions in Maryland and throughout the USA. Initially only for human research, the Center has undergone a large expansion with a new animal imaging center to add molecular, cellular and functional imaging facilities to its central function as a resource for KKI and JHU. The goal is to have basic research and human applications in a combined setting to promote efficient translation of the technology to the clinic. The animal imaging center has just been built and makes available state-of-the-art horizontal bore 11.7T and vertical bore 17.6T high-resolution MRI scanners in a clean facility allowing animals to be brought in from and returned to clean overnight housing at JHU. However, it is currently lacking an optical/micro-CT imaging unit that is needed for realizing the full research potential of the new center. This proposed instrumentation will provide the following benefits for the users: 1) An integrated micro-CT system that allows exact 3D anatomical co-registration of all optical images; 2) An integrated animal (cradle) arm that fits straight into the horizontal bore 11.7 T MRI scanner, obviating the need of repositioning the animals. This will facilitate co-registration of optical and CT images with MRI, expanding our imaging toolbox to three modalities; and 3) Housed within a clean facility but not behind a barrier, the proposed instrument will allow repeated imaging of animals that are transported back and forward to and from specialized laboratories, e.g. for electrophysiological measurements and microsurgeries. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: We propose to purchase a new animal scanner that produces optical images based on fluorescence and bioluminescence, as well as 3D radiographic images through computed tomography (CT). The combined optical/micro-CT scanner will become part of an existing animal MR imaging facility and benefit 27 NIH funded projects that will use the new scanner to interrogate biological events in a non-invasive manner for research into multiple diseases, including cancer, stroke, brain injury, schizophrenia, and diabetes.