Pre-Clinical Imaging Services

CIR has available microPET, microCT and MR imaging modalities for use by investigators for in-vivo/ex-vivo studies. Full-service is available for all modalities, where our technicians perform the imaging and/or processing and provide the data to you.  For MR imaging, training is available so that researchers can perform their own imaging. Training is also available for post-processing services. PET radiotracer and radiolabeling services supported by our in-house cyclotrons are also available in our center.

CIR faculty and technicians are available for technical support in: Study design, Imaging protocols and techniques, Post-processing and data analysis, Data interpretation, and Training.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging

PET Imaging is essential for molecular imaging research.  It is a nuclear medicine functional imaging technique that is used to observe metabolic processes in the body. The PET scanner uses a ring of highly sensitive crystals to detect pairs of gamma rays emitted by a positron-emitting radionuclide (tracer), which is introduced into the body on a biologically active molecule. The scanner produces a 3 dimensional image of the anatomic distribution of the radioactive tracer and can measure the rates of biochemical processes in-vivo using tracer kinetics.

Computed Tomography (CT) Imaging

Computed tomography (CT), formerly referred to as computed axial tomography (CAT), uses X-rays to produce detailed cross-sectional images of the body. Multiple X-ray projections are reconstructed using a filtered back projection reconstruction technique into a 3D image of the object in the scanner. Clinical CT imaging is used to produce detailed anatomic images of the body and is particularly useful for imaging of the bone. It is routinely used clinically in PET/CT scanners to produce low-dose CT images used to calculate attenuation correction and then fused with the PET images to show detail in anatomic structures.  In the same way, our microCT scanner images can be fused with our microPET images to provide enhanced anatomical detail.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Spectroscopy (MRS)

MRI scanners use a magnetic field, radiofrequency waves, and magnetic field gradients to non-invasively produce in-vivo images of a living subject or ex-vivo images of tissue for research applications. MRS uses a specialized probe in an MR scanner to noninvasively measure biochemical changes within a sample or an imaging probe to measure biochemical changes with a living subject. Both techniques are widely used clinically to produce both anatomic and functional images in many disease processes. CIR’s 11.7T vertical MR system provides both imaging (such as T1, T2, EPI, DWI, SWI) and spectroscopy in a wide-bore system capable of in-vivo imaging of small animals (mice).

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