UTHealth Preclinical Imaging Center

Overview of Services

UTHealth Houston Preclinical Core Facility                                                                                                             

The Preclinical Imaging Center provides state-of-the-art imaging services to the Texas Medical Center. The Preclinical Imaging Center at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston houses simultaneous 7T Bruker PET-MRI system. Conventional and advanced MR techniques are available on the system, which includes 2D and 3D gradient echo, spin echo, fast spin echo, ultrashort echo, and EPI sequences, diffusion tensor or diffusion weighted imaging, MR angiography, Dixon, ASL, magnetization transfer imaging, CEST imaging, MR spectroscopy and chemical shift imaging. The system is also capable of multi-nuclear spectroscopy and imaging.  The Si 198 3-ring PET insert has an axial field of view (FOV) of 150 mm capable of mouse whole-body imaging with a spatial resolution of 0.8 mm (Derenzo). The facility also has physiological monitoring equipment that allows cardiac gating, respiratory gating, and temperature regulation.

In addition to the PET-MRI system, the Preclinical Imaging Center has an Iconeus One functional ultrasound (fUS) imaging system. fUS imaging uses cutting-edge technology for neuro-imaging applications tracking changes in blood oxygenation levels (BOLD) signals to measure brain activity, similar to functional MRI that measures hemodynamic response of the brain to stimulation or resting state. The Iconeus One system can also map blood vessels at ultra-high resolution using ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM) down to the capillary level. 

We offer imaging services in a wide range of research areas, such as stroke, oncology, cardiology, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, knee injury, and liver diseases. Our expert team can help you implement various imaging methods and optimize imaging protocols to meet your research needs. We can also assist you with image analysis for deriving quantitative metrics. The center can also help the investigators with AWC animal protocol and grant preparations.

Services:

• MRI
• in vivo
• ex vivo
• PET/MRI
• Functional Ultrasound - Iconeus One
• Behavioral Assessments
• Computer Activity Monitoring
• Mechanical Conflict Avoidance Assay
• Morris Water Maze
• Randal-Selitto Assay
• Von Frey Assay
• Foot Fault Assay

 Getting Started:

• All imaging studies must have AWC approved animal protocol. Make sure imaging procedure is covered in the protocol. We are not allowed to scan without the approved protocol.
• Finish the MRI safety class offered through LearnToSucceed
• Contact Dr. Shuning Huang to check out the scanner schedule for open time slots and submit scan request through iLab.
• Contact Dr. Juan Herrera to check out the Behavioral Core schedule for open time slots and submit requests through iLab. 

Isoflurane anesthesia system usage charge:
There is no additional charge for the use of isoflurane anesthesia system if you reserve an imaging instrument.

Contrast agent usage:
There is no additional charge if the use of MRI contrast agent is needed in the study.

Leadership

Hours of operation

Links and Resources

https://med.uth.edu/radiology/research/mr-research-group/uthealth-7t-mri-preclinical-core-facility/

Contacts