Imaging Shared Service

18.0 Abstract: Imaging Shared Service The Imaging Shared Service (ISS) provides UMGCCC members with a wide array of state-of-the-art imaging services, including structural and functional imaging of cells and imaging of whole animals and humans. ISS assists with experimental design, data analysis, data interpretation, and training to leverage advanced imaging services, accelerate discovery, and develop a robust translational pipeline. ISS resources include state-of-the- art confocal imaging for live cells, fixed tissues, ex vivo samples, and whole animals. ISS electron microscopy service provides transmission electron and scanning electron microscopy (conventional and cryo-samples), and immuno-electron microscopy to meet the needs of UMGCCC investigators. Whole-animal imaging is facilitated by a vast array of instruments, including whole-animal bioluminescence and fluorescence, micro-PET/CT, small- animal MRI for preclinical work, high-field MRI, combined PET/MRI, and CT services to meet the needs of investigators. ISS also provides unique technologies, such as dynamic nuclear hyperpolarization using C-13 and other nuclei, to study metabolic flux in cancer and MR-guided focused ultrasound for interventions that permit drug delivery across the blood–brain barrier. ISS offers an important platform for clinical translation that facilitates clinical trials. Given the multidisciplinary nature of ISS, its leaders and members interact extensively with other shared services and with investigators in all UMGCCC programs. ISS also provides educational opportunities and onsite training to facilitate the design, execution, and analysis of a wide variety of experiments. Staff members of ISS, some of whom are supported by the P30 grant, are experts who help users to define and refine study designs, assess research needs, and provide guidance. ISS advisory sessions often include consults from members of the Biostatistics Shared Service. ISS is committed to providing value-added state-of-the-art services to educate faculty, staff, fellows, and students and to offering advanced imaging technology to UMGCCC investigators. ISS provides streamlined access to services that prioritizes UMGCCC members with peer- reviewed funding. An internal Faculty Oversight Committee, consisting of ISS users, provides advice on core management of ISS and helps to develop strategic planning for new ISS equipment. ISS has very high utilization. In 2019, ISS supported studies by 88 investigators, 58 (65.9%) of whom were affiliated with UMGCCC. ISS users represent all UMGCCC research programs. In 2019, ISS supported $32.8 million of total funding. $17 million this funding was cancer-related and peer reviewed. ISS supported 239 cancer-related publications from 2015 to 2019 including those published in such high-impact journals as Radiology, Journal of Cerebral Blood.