BIDMC 9.4T 20cm Biospec MRI System

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston MA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of animals is continuing to gain importance as a means of development and validation of new MRI techniques, as well as a necessary tool for tracking of tissue status in animal studies of disease, replacing previously invasive and destructive methodologies. The Center for Basic MR Research is a facility of the Radiology Department at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and based in the Harvard Medical School area for MRI of tissues and animal models of disease. The facility currently includes an 8.5T 9 cm vertical bore system and a 4.7T 40 cm bore horizontal system, and currently serves the needs of 11 R01 / P01 / U01 NIH projects and 4 training / pilot NIH projects, as well as 3 R01 pending projects, and 3 other projects within the community. The 8.5T system was originally purchased in 1986 (with periodic upgrades of parts of the electronics and probes through 1999), and the 4.7T system was purchased in 1999. Both systems are outdated and have significant limitations for the current (and future) projects of the Center. The current call for proposals for the High End Instrumentation Program provides an opportunity to upgrade the Center by purchasing a state-of-the-art MRI instrument. Our proposed plan is to purchase a 9.4 Tesla 20 cm bore Biospec Imaging system with a microimaging gradient insert to replace both systems. The replacement of the 4.7T and 8.5T systems with a 9.4T 20 cm bore system, with the associated higher field strength and updated electronics and software, will provide much needed improvement in image quality and image acquisition speed for the rat and mouse studies being done on the current systems. The upgraded electronics and software will also enable experiments that are currently not feasible. The Center is housed at a satellite facility of BIDMC, the Harvard Institutes of Medicine (HIM). Within the next year, BIDMC has committed to moving the lab over to the main BIDMC campus. There it will be in close proximity to the Longwood Small Animal Imaging Facility (SAIF) with bioluminenscence, multi- and hyper-spectral fluorescence, microCT, microPET/CT, microSPECT/CT. In addition, BIDMC has just purchased a Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) system which will allow for unprecedented metabolic studies in animal models of disease. A satellite animal facility is available that will allow animals to be brought in and out for imaging in both MRI and the SAIF. In addition, a full time dedicated lab manager was hired to support the needs of the biomedical community by providing the MRI expertise. In summary, the Center currently supports a wide range of NIH funded investigators. The support provided by a full time lab manager, adjacent small animal imaging facility for non-MRI imaging, availability of DNP equipment and expertise, and in &out animal facility, will provide a unique infrastructure for investigation of disease in animal models. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The Center for Basic MR Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) currently serves BIDMC and the surrounding Harvard Medical area with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instrumentation for studying animal models of disease. The instrumentation is now between 10 and 23 years old;therefore the goal is to replace the outdated systems with state of the art MRI instrumentation. Through this improvement, jobs will be generated in the construction industry (for sitting the system), for lab technicians, scientists, and the employment of manufacturing and service personnel within the MRI industry.