VisualSonics Vevo770 High Resolution In Vivo Imaging System

描述(由申请人提供)：本申请请求为Visualsonics Vevo770成像系统提供资金，以支持塔夫茨大学医学院(TUSM)和波士顿塔夫茨医学中心(TMC)正在进行的研究。由12名资金充足的NIH调查人员组成的核心小组将是该仪器的主要用户，并将占其使用的大约80%。介绍了癌症、干细胞和血管生物学领域的前沿项目。该系统将安置在TUSM/TMC小动物成像设施中，在那里它将补充现有的光学成像设备，包括Xenogen IVIS生物光子成像仪和徕卡MZFLIII立体荧光成像系统。生理系主任将为仪器提供空间并提供行政支持，医学院院长将为有经验的超声医师提供支持，医学中心研究副总裁将为仪器的维护提供资金，生理系主任将大力支持将仪器添加到设施中。该设施由PI指导，该仪器将由设施经理和一名也将培训新用户的超声波技师进行日常管理和操作。TUSM/TMC的几名研究人员拥有超声波技术方面的专业知识，其中包括理查德·彭定康博士，他将担任该仪器的现场顾问。一个由PI(TUSM)、Patten博士(TMC)以及来自TMC癌症中心、实验动物医学部和医学院生理系的代表组成的咨询委员会将监督Vevo770系统的使用，并制定使用和公平共享该仪器的政策。Vevo770成像系统的上市将大大提高由NIH资助的生物医学研究的质量和范围，这些研究正在波士顿的塔夫茨健康科学园区进行。与公共健康相关：如果获得资金，这项赠款提案将导致购买最先进的超声成像系统，该系统将加快由NIH资助的尖端研究正在塔夫茨医学院和医疗中心进行。该提案的资金还将有助于开发新的成像技术，许多人预计这种技术将在疾病诊断、预后和治疗方面发挥越来越重要的作用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application requests funds for a VisualSonics Vevo770 Imaging System to support research being carried out at Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) and the Tufts Medical Center (TMC) in Boston. A core group of 12 well funded NIH investigators will be the primary users of the instrument and will account for approximately 80% of its use. Cutting edge projects in the areas of cancer, stem cell and vascular biology are described. The system will be housed in the TUSM/TMC Small Animal Imaging Facility where it will complement existing optical imaging equipment including a Xenogen IVIS biophotonic imager and a Leica MZFLIII stereo fluorescence imaging system. Addition of the instrument to the facility is strongly supported by the Chairman of the Department of Physiology, who will provide space for the instrument and administrative support, the Dean of the Medical School who will provide support for an experienced sonographer, and the Vice President of Research at the Medical Center, who will provide funds for maintenance of the instrument. The Facility is directed by the PI and the instrument will be managed and operated on a day-to-day basis by the Facility Manager and a Sonographer who will also train new users. Several investigators at TUSM/TMC have expertise in ultrasound technology including Dr. Richard Patten, who will serve as an onsite consultant for the instrument. An advisory committee consisting of the PI (TUSM), Dr. Patten (TMC) and representatives from the TMC Cancer Center, the Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine, and the Medical School's Department of Physiology will oversee use of the Vevo770 system and develop policies for use and equitable sharing of the instrument. The availability of the Vevo770 imaging system will greatly enhance the quality and extent of NIH- funded biomedical research being carried out on the Tufts Health Sciences Campus in Boston. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: If funded, this grant proposal will result in the purchase of a state-of-the-art ultrasound imaging system that will accelerate cutting edge NIH-funded research being conducted at Tufts Medical School and Medical Center. Funding of the proposal will also contribute to the development of new imaging technology that is expected by many to have an increasingly important role in disease diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.