UCCRC Core Facilities: MRIS Imaging

Scientific Director:  Brian Roman, PhD and Greg Karczmar, PhD

Technical Director:  Xiaobing Fan, PhD

Phone: 773-702-4710

Web Site:  http://mris.bsd.uchicago.edu

The Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy (MRIS) Facility provides magnetic resonance imaging for studies of both animal models of cancer and clinical research involving human subjects.  The 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.  In addition, the scanners can provide metabolic measurements with MR spectroscopy and MR spectroscopic imaging.

Services
Scans of tissues, cells (using micro-imaging equipment at the University of Illinois at Chicago), materials, animal models of cancer, and patients to provide information on the following:

  • Detailed 3D anatomy;
  • Perfusion, capillary permeability, and blood volume;
  • Energy metabolism and metabolic markers for cancer;
  • Measurements of the apparent diffusion constant and diffusion tensor imaging;
  • Measurements of changes in tumor oxygenation during therapy;
  • T1, T2 measurements;
  • Cell tracking (pancreatic islets, stem cells, and macrophages);
  • Calcium dynamics;
  • Assessment of pancreatic function;
  • Tests of new contrast agents;
  • fMRI measurements of brain activation;
  • Development and testing of new imaging methods;
  • Data analysis and consultation; and
  • Veterinary services, including the preparation of animals for MRI experiments, anesthesia and respiration, physiological monitoring, catheter implantation, and tumor implantation.