Integrated Small Animal Imaging Research Resource

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT - INTEGRATED SMALL ANIMAL IMAGINING RESEARCH RESOURCE (iSAIRR) The Integrated Small Animal Imaging Research Resource (iSAIRR) supports the development of state-of- the-art imaging for small animals for University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) investigators. The objective of iSAIRR is to provide state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, and outstanding scientific and technical expertise to apply current and developing cancer imaging modalities to assess underlying biological mechanisms, improve diagnosis and detection, and monitor effects of cancer therapies, with the ultimate goal of facilitating clinical translation and application. The iSAIRR has demonstrated its broad usage and applications in advancing research in breast, lung, prostate, ovarian, head and neck, pancreatic, colorectal, and brain cancer. To take full advantage of this rapidly changing imaging landscape, and to provide a wider spectrum of imaging capabilities and services, the iSAlRR offers a broader spectrum of imaging modalities and techniques for in vivo imaging of small animals and ex vivo imaging of tissue/organ specimens with improved operational efficiency and cost effectiveness. In the current grant reporting period, iSAIRR supported 47 unique UCCCC members (40% MMC, 6% CPC, 15% IC, 36% CET), supporting their scientific needs and consistent with the strategic pillars of UCCCC. iSAIRR supported 55 cancer-related federal grants, and 63 cancer relevant peer reviewed publications (41% in journals with impact factor ≥ 10). In this next cycle iSAIRR will continue to work closely with the Cyclotron and UCCCC members to develop novel radiotheranostic tracers for translational applications.