This proposal requests NIH support to purchase VisualSonics Vevo LAZR-X Ultrasound and Photoacoustic Imaging (USPAI) system. This system uniquely integrates two imaging modalities and is specifically designed for pre-clinical small animal research. This equipment acquisition at Tufts University will reduce the number of animals sacrificed for studies and enable cost-effective, robust longitudinal investigations. The instrument will serve 4 different departments (Biomedical Engineering, Biology, Chemical Engineering, and Molecular Biology), 22 NIH funded grant projects and 6 non-NIH sponsored research grants by 7 major users and 4 minor users. It fills a critical need as there are no small animal imaging systems available at the campus site and other existing systems in the Boston area, are not accessible either due to lack of required features, committed to usage only at the institution or being located at logistically inconvenient distances for small animal research. Key features that will provide enhanced capabilities to the investigators are 1. Longitudinal imaging and monitoring of the same animal will favor less animal sacrifice, is cost-effective, and will provide an efficient internal control for the experiments. 2. Real-time imaging: On-line monitoring of various dynamic molecular events during therapeutic interventions will valuable provide information to customize and modify the interventions on a personalized basis. 3. 3D imaging capability will provide accurate dimensions of pathologies such as tumor shape and size. In addition, the 3D structural ultrasound images overlaid with 3D photoacoustic images will provide overall visualization of the anatomical and functional aspects of the tissue. 4. It offers complementary functional information on hemodynamics/oxygenation and contrast agents. 5. Adaptability across various systems: Both pre-clinical and laboratory tissues (ex vivo samples, tissue engineered constructs, solutions and phantoms with optical contrast agents) can be imaged with the USPAI system thereby addressing wide-range needs of various investigators at the Tufts University. 6. With penetration depth greater than traditional light microscopy, USPAI could significantly enhance our ability to understand various pathologies in their native environment without terminal assays. The major users are leading researchers in various multidisciplinary fields such as tissue engineering, cardiovascular research, imaging, cancer research, and nanobiotechnology at Tufts University Medford Campus. As a group, they have determined that the capabilities of VisualSonics USPAI will complement and enhance their research. Furthermore, the PI expertise is in ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging that ensures availability of expert technical support along with appropriate and innovative use of the equipment. There is a newly renovated space to house the instrument adjacent to the animal facility. Strong institutional support, long-term financial sustainability plan with an internal and external advisory board to assist with potential administrative issues that may arise will ensure smooth maintaining and running of the USPAI system.
Non-invasive imaging technologies have become essential tools in biomedical research as they provide the ability to detect and longitudinally monitor anatomical, physiological and functional changes in living animals undergoing therapeutic interventions as these processes occur. The system will allow researchers to take new, potentially more valuable in vivo measurements in place of terminal studies with multiple animal models sacrificed at different time points. The Visualsonics LAZR-X Ultrasound and Photoacoustic imaging system requested in this proposal is, at this time a unique commercially available instrument will provide the above ability and in addition will indisputably complement the biomedical research and transcend some of the limitations, particularly deep tissue imaging, of the traditional optical imaging technologies currently used at Tufts University.
