This Shared Instrumentation Grant (S10) requests funds to purchase a VisualSonics Vevo770 Ultrasound Biomicroscopy and Microinjection Core (UBMIC) for use by both established NIH-funded and young investigators in the new John G. Rangos Pediatric Research Building at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Lawrenceville Campus. With the rapid expansion of molecular models of human diseases in small animals (predominantly but not exclusively in mice) the ability to perform longitudinal, high-resolution, efficient functional imaging that is accurate, efficient, and affordable to investigators has become essential for most research protocols. Micro-CT and small bore MRI systems provide outstanding spatial resolution but cannot be operated to provide efficient high-throughput, cannot provide cardiovascular functional data, and do not currently assist in targeting microinjection. Due to the significant costs of rodent colonies and the time required to generate unique cross-bred genotypes, it is essential to acquire comprehensive data sets rather than individual functional parameters (such as heart rate or blood pressure alone) whenever feasible. The novel VisualSonics high-resolution ultrasound imaging system uses scanning frequencies up to 82.5 MHz to provide 2-dimensional images with an axial resolution to 30
