Small Animal Imaging Core

The Small Animal Imaging Core provides investigators with access to radiology imaging equipment and specialized high end computers and software for research that involves animal models of health and disease. Its function is similar to radiology departments in the clinical setting. Staffed by highly experienced research imaging specialists and technologists, the core provides images to investigators and facilitates image processing and interpretation via collaboration with the Translational Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, the Optical Imaging Core and individual research laboratories.  The equipment is typical of instrumentation found radiology department with the addition of special optical based techniques useful for imaging very small subjects: Bioluminescence/Fluorescence imaging, Micro-CT, 7 Tesla small bore MRI, High-Res plain film X-ray, Micro-Spect-CT.

The facility is designed to provide not only imaging technologies, but also guidance in terms of imaging protocols. One of the core's major capabilities is handling different kinds of research projects including working with small rodents with or without imaging equipment. The core is open to academic investigators and commercial/non-commercial organizations.

Services

• Available imaging scanners
• Full handling of projects
• Precise intracranial xenographts
• Fixed and non-fixed biological sample harvesting
• Complicated perfusions
• Imaging data collection, reconstruction, storage
• Imaging data processing and analyze with different software's-Analyze, Amira, Imaris,  Arivis, Image J, MatLab, Osirix, LightWave, CT-An, Adobe, IVIS Living Image
• Technical training, personal trainings on imaging modalities, software training
• Research imaging project creation and consultation
• Powerful PCs equipped with up to 1TB of RAM

This Core participates in the CHLA Core Pilot Program. To learn more click here.

Equipment and Software

7.05T Pharmascan uMRI (Bruker) 2003 - This is a small bore, single channel uMRI , capable of running anatomical studies in  small rodents( up to small rabbits). We generate data according to the studies for tumor development, metastasis, tracking of contrast enhanced cells (tumors, stem cells, etc.). Equipment is capable to run some spectrometries for organic and non-organic compounds. The best in-plane resolution is 83um; in-slice resolution is 320-350 um.

IVIS 200 Bioluminescence/Fluorescence (Perkin-Elmer, former Xenogen) 2013 - in vivo imaging technology platform, that allows non-invasive visualization and tracking of cellular and genetic activity within a living organism in real time.  This equipment is work-horse with high throughput capacity. An optimized set of high efficiency filters and spectral un-mixing algorithms lets you take full advantage of bioluminescent and fluorescent reporters across the blue to near infrared wavelength region. It also offers single-view 3D tomography for both fluorescent and bioluminescent reporters that can be analyzed in an anatomical context using Digital Mouse Atlas.

Faxitron MX-20- is the industry standard in cabinet X-ray systems for point-of-care specimen/small rodent radiography, specified in bone studies and implants.

SkyScan1172 HighRes uCT (Bruker) - High-resolution desktop X-ray  uCT system for small samples. The flexible geometry of the scanner is particularly advantageous over intermediate resolution levels.  Good for biological tissue structural studies.

SPECT/CT - This high resolution SPECT system has numerous advantages over the use of clinical gamma cameras and micro-PET systems, including:  CT and SPECT to form fusion images to localize radioisotopes signal.