In Vivo Translational Imaging Shared Resource

University Of California At Davis, Davis CA

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

IN VIVO TRANSLATIONAL IMAGING SHARED RESOURCE (IVTISR) PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The In Vivo Translational Imaging Shared Resource (IVTISR) was developed to provide UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCDCCC) members outstanding resources in the rapidly evolving field of non- invasive imaging technologies, addressing the strong demand for these technologies by UCDCCC members. In vivo imaging in animal models of human disease and in humans is an integral part of addressing cancer outcomes and in assessing and addressing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The IVTISR provides in vivo imaging equipment, and dedicated imaging protocols and expertise that are critical to the advancement of understanding basic mechanisms of cancer as well as the translation of new oncologic diagnostic and therapeutic tools to the clinic. Guidance is also provided on experimental design involving in vivo imaging, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols, imaging data analysis and interpretation, as well as on manuscript and grant preparation/budgeting. The IVTISR consists of three units; the Center for Molecular and Genomic Imaging (CMGI) that supports small animal in vivo imaging, biospecimen imaging and preclinical radiochemistry, the Center for Imaging Science (CIS) that supports imaging studies in large animals, and the EXPLORER Molecular Imaging Center (EMIC), that supports human positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) studies. Therefore, as a whole this shared resource uniquely supports imaging studies from rodent models of cancer to larger animals such as cats and dogs with spontaneous cancers to humans with oncologic conditions. Oversight and management of the IVTISR is provided by the Director, Abhijit Chaudhari, MS, PhD, the Director of the CMGI with over 15 years of experience in animal and human cancer imaging with various imaging modalities, quantitative imaging science, imaging biomarker design and validation and medical image processing; the co- Director, Allison Zwingenberger, DVM, MAS, a board-certified veterinary radiologist with extensive experience in cancer imaging using CT, MRI, and ultrasound in companion animal models of cancer; and the co-Director, Lorenzo Nardo, MD, PhD, radiologist with extensive training in MRI, CT, and molecular imaging in the diagnosis, follow up and treatment of cancer. The Specific Aims for the IVTISR are to: 1) Provide UCDCCC members with access to a broad range of in vivo imaging technologies, including molecular imaging technologies, such as PET, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and optical imaging, quantitative physiologic imaging with ultrasound, and anatomic imaging with CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 2) Provide expertise in planning, executing and analyzing in vivo imaging studies. 3) Support imaging studies in rodent models (primarily at the CMGI), in larger animals with spontaneously arising cancers (primarily at the CIS), and humans (primarily at the EMIC). 4) Continue to seek state-of-the-art in vivo imaging technologies that will enhance UCDCCC members' research endeavors.