The Facility

The MRIS Imaging facility provides MR imaging and spectroscopy of the structures and dynamics of living tissue and materials for the UCCRC. Measurements provided include very high resolution anatomic images, images of hemodynamic parameters such as perfusion rate and capillary permeability, imaging tumor oxygenation and changes in oxygenation. Researchers use these measurements to characterize tumor anatomy and physiology and also represent changes during therapy.

Services and Equipment

Researchers call on the facility for non-invasive, high resolution imaging of animal models of disease and materials and clinical research studies involving new applications of MRI. BSD and PSD research groups use the facility for such diverse projects as:

• Studies of tumor oxygenation
• Studies of tumor blood flow
• Development of high spectral and spatial resolution MR for improved anatomic and functional imaging
• Differentiation of metastatic and non-metastatic rodent tumors
• Analysis of the dynamics of granular materials
• Effects of electrical injury
• Structure of arterial plaque
• Evaluation of response in cancer patients undergoing experimental therapies
• New approaches to brain anatomic and functional imaging

The laboratory has state-of-the-art imaging equipment:

• The core completed an upgrade of the 4.7 Tesla 30 cm bore, magnet-equipped scanner in 2004. The new console offers users improved software and easier access. In addition, the new imaging gradients are much stronger than their predecessors and have decreased eddy currents. The core’s staff members develop standard protocols, which enables users can execute with relatively little training. The scanner is capable of a variety of state-of-art experiments including echo planar imaging, diffusion weighted imaging, magnetization transfer imaging, and very fast imaging for monitoring contrast media uptake.
• The core’s new Philips Clinical 1.5 T whole body scanner will be in service in 2005. Although this is a clinical scanner, a significant portion of its scan time will be devoted to cancer research. This will include research on screening for breast and prostate cancer in high risk groups and monitoring response of patients to experimental therapy. The new scanner will have greatly enhanced imaging capabilities including parallel imaging and improved programming and protocol software.

The upgraded equipment and the new 4.7 Tesla console has expanded and improved the types of imaging offered by the facility. It now provides a wide variety of anatomic and functional images including:

• Very high resolution (as high as 100 microns in plane in a 200 micron slice) T1 and T2-weighted images
• Diffusion and Diffusion Tensor images
• Dynamic contrast enhanced MR images with high spatial and spectral resolution
• Very high resolution EPSI for improved anatomic and functional imaging
• Magnetization Transfer images
• Spin – tagging and angiography
• A variety of fast imaging methods including echo-planar imaging and fast spin echo imaging

The facility staff is available to help users with:

• Protocol design and optimization
• Pulse sequence design and programming
• Construction of custom equipment including RF detectors and animal holders
• Data analysis – including a variety of software packages for DCEMRI data

With delivery of the new Philips Clinical scanner earlier in 2005, the facility will enhance its support of clinical research. Among these advantages will be extremely fast imaging and specialized coils for breast, prostate, pelvis, and spine.
The laboratory also has:

• A well equipped small-animal surgery and an electronics laboratory
• A new 400 foot wet lab in the new wing of the Radiology Department that the core uses for sample preparation and contrast agent development
• Equipment that monitors blood-pressure, heart-rate, ECG, temperature, and oxygen
• A number of fast PC’s and software for data analysis
• Access to generous allotments of time on clinical imaging equipment in the Goldblatt facility, the Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine (DCAM) and the Neurosciences Imaging Center

Operation
As a Core Research Facility of the University of Chicago Cancer Research Center, pilot funding is available for projects proposed by Cancer Center members and approved the MRIS advisory committee.

Charge-Back/Fee Structure
Charge for Magnet Time $100/hr
MRI physicist $ 50/hr
Veterinary Technologist $ 50/hr