Animal Imaging

ABSTRACT The Animal Imaging Core’s provides investigators with unique, state-of-the-art capabilities for non-invasively detecting, localizing, and biologically characterizing primary and metastatic cancer cells in vivo in small-animal (i.e., rodent) models. The core's major goals are: 1) to provide a large number and variety of non-invasive, quantitative small-animal imaging modalities: magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopic imaging (MRI and MRSI, respectively), positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of radiolabeled tracers, computed tomography (CT), optical imaging of luminescent and fluorescent probes, and structural and functional ultrasound scanning as well as therapeutic irradiation; 2) to provide analytics support as needed (data processing and management, image reconstruction, etc.); and 3) to provide consultation for experimental design and training in the use of the Core’s instrumentation.