Core Research Services for Molecular Imaging and Imaging Sciences

Clinical Center

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

The core facilities support translational research in the imaging sciences. Radiology and Imaging Sciences has evolved over the years. Supporting imaging research with core facilities and training academic radiologists and imaging scientists in the Intramural Program is the main goal. The Laboratory for Diagnostic Radiology Research has evolved into a more broad program for core support of translational research related to Radiology and Imaging Sciences, maintaining infrastructure for core basic science radioactive and non-radioactive lab facilities in Radiology with biology, molecular biology bays, synthetic chemistry bays, in vivo and ex vivo microscopy, BSL 2 tissue culture rooms, cold rooms, confocal microscopy, in vivo microscopy, contrast agent development, stem cell trafficking, cell migration, nanoparticle analysis and characterization, integrin antagonist synthetic chemistry, multi-modality probes, atherosclerosis probes, molecular imaging of colonic polyps, multi-modality imaging, molecular interventions, microbubble formulations, microbeads for delivery of chemotherapy agents, cell labeling and liposomal chemistry. One of the BSL 2 tissue culture rooms is cable of performing radiolabeling studies. The core facility also now operates a micro-positron emission tomography (PET) and micro-computerized tomography (CT) system for performing PET/CT evaluating structural and metabolic changes in rodent models. There is also a 7T MRI Microimager and 3T clinical MRI scanner available to the scientists. The clinical 3T scanner is used for animal experimentation and clinical research. One day a week is dedicated to National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and bioengineering research as part of an Memorandum of understanding (MOU) in exchange for upgrading the Philips 3T MRI. There is also time available to the In Vivo NMR research center to scan animals for experiments from different ICDs. This was arranged as part of the MOU to contain the LDRR 3T MRI in the facility. There is a variety of shared equipment and facilities in the department that supports Radiology and Imaging Sciences Investigators and collaborative Intramural Investigators and labs, as well as the training of junior clinical, translational and basic science investigators. The core facility does not service other institutes but provides access to instrumentation via collaboration with radiology and imaging sciences. The major research being performed by the 3 principal investigator groups in the core facility include: the effect of therapeutic ultrasound on tissues and diseases involving the molecular and cellular transformations that occur following sonication of tissues ex vivo or in in vivo models of disease; the development of novel positron emission tomographic agents that can be used to detect fungal infections in vivo. This involves the synthesis of cold and radiolabled agents and evaluating the effects on detecting numbers of fungal spores and potential for treatment. This work is being supported in part by the center for infectious disease imaging NIAID; The development of probes used for chemo or immunotherapy delivery in various small and large animal model systems being done in the center for interventional oncology sponsored in part by NCI. The core itself does not produce any research data. There is no longer support staff to assist with using existing equipment which has updated since 2021.