Enhancing multidisciplinary research at Mayo with a state-of-the-art 7T preclinical MRI

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN seeks funding to acquire the Bruker BioSpec 70/20 magnetic resonance (MR) imaging scanner, featuring a 7.0 Tesla magnet and a 20 cm horizontal bore. This instrument will significantly advance our research capabilities by addressing existing gaps in preclinical imaging. The chosen bore size and system configuration are deliberately selected to accommodate a wide range of small animal models, from zebrafish, mice (capable of imaging multiple mice simultaneously) to adult rats, essential for ongoing studies in neuroscience, cancer research, cardiovascular diseases, and beyond. This flexibility is crucial for implementing advanced imaging applications such as MR elastography, which requires extra space for actuators within the bore in contact with the subject to generate mechanical waves in soft tissues, enhancing our research capabilities in mechanical tissue properties from head to toe. The horizontal configuration of the BioSpec 70/20 is strategically justified to overcome physiological and technical limitations experienced with obsolete vertical NMR systems, such as organ shift due to gravity, which affects the consistency of quantitative imaging results. Horizontal positioning also facilitates easier access to the subject during scans, crucial for dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and functional MRI, where precise and repeated interventions are required. Equipped with a high-performance gradient system and a 16-channel receiver, the BioSpec 70/20 will enable sophisticated quantitative imaging techniques essential for cutting-edge research. These include high- resolution diffusion tensor imaging for neurology studies, arterial spin labeling for assessing cerebral and tissue blood flow, and advanced cardiac imaging to capture the fast dynamics of small animal hearts. The system's superior gradients and slew rates are critical for applications requiring high signal-to-noise ratios and rapid acquisition times, such as diffusion-based cytometry and functional imaging of neuronal activity. The broad, long-term objectives of acquiring this system include enhancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and therapeutic responses at a microstructural level across multiple research programs. This system will support significant advances in liver disease research by enabling high-resolution imaging to evaluate fibrosis and inflammation, brain disease research through precise imaging of neurodegeneration, and nephrology and cardiovascular research by allowing detailed assessments of cardiac function, renal function and vascular morphology. In conclusion, the acquisition of the BioSpec 70/20 MRI system will transform the Mayo Clinic’s research landscape, bridging the gap between preclinical findings and clinical applications, and maintaining our leadership in biomedical research. This investment will not only advance our current projects but also pave the way for new discoveries and innovations in medical science.