Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

The overall goal of the MRI facility is provide high resolution/high throughput imaging capabilities and equipment/pulse sequences that deliver sufficient SNR to test novel molecularly targeted MR imaging agents. Two high field magnets operate at 4.7 Tesla and 7 Tesla fieldstrength, providing the optimal setup to image both T1 and T2/T2* targeting imaging probes. In addition, the magnets facilitate state of the art high resolution anatomical and functional imaging of various mouse models in cancer, cardiovascular and neuro-research.

We use tailored MR pulse sequences and high-end, dedicated RF coils, ranging in size from rat whole body to mouse heart, to optimize SNR for specific application.

To assure imaging at physiologic conditions and to optimize anesthesia, dedicated monitoring systems are capable of recording the heart and respiratory rate and body temperature, which is kept in a physiological range by MR compatible heating systems.

4.7T Bruker Pharmascan

Mri2 Cancer

7T Bruker Pharmascan

Mri7t1-1 Athero

Publications

  1. Ventura A, Kirsch DG, McLaughlin ME, Tuveson DA, Grimm J, Lintault L, Newman J, Reczek EE, Weissleder R, Jacks T Restoration of p53 function leads to tumour regression in vivo. Nature. 2007;445:661-5.
  2. Kirsch DG, Dinulescu DM, Miller JB, Grimm J, Santiago PM, Young NP, Nielsen GP, Quade BJ, Chaber CJ, Schultz CP, Takeuchi O, Bronson RT, Crowley D, Korsmeyer SJ, Yoon SS, Hornicek FJ, Weissleder R, Jacks T. A spatially and temporally restricted mouse model of soft tissue sarcoma. Nat Med. 2007;13(8):992-997.
  3. Sosnovik DE, Nahrendorf M, Deliolanis N, Novikov M, Aikawa E, Josephson L, Rosenzweig A, Weissleder R, Ntziachristos V. Fluorescence Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Myocardial Macrophage Infiltration in Infarcted Myocardium In Vivo. Circulation. 2007;115:1384-1391.
  4. Sosnovik DE, Nahrendorf M, Weissleder R. Molecular magnetic resonance imaging in cardiovascular medicine. Circulation. 2007;115(15):2076-86.
  5. Nahrendorf M, Sosnovik D, Waterman P, Swirski F, Pande A, Aikawa E, Figueiredo JL, Pittet M, Weissleder R. Dual channel optical tomographic imaging of leukocyte recruitment and protease activity in the healing myocardial infarct. Circ Res. 2007;100:1218-1225.
  6. Sosnovik DE, Weissleder R. Emerging concepts in molecular MRI. Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2007;18(1):4-10.
  7. Nahrendorf M, Jaffer FA, Kelly KA, Sosnovik DE, Aikawa E, Libby P, Weissleder R. Noninvasive Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 Imaging Identifies Inflammatory Activation of Cells in Atherosclerosis. Circulation. 2006;114:1504-1511.
  8. Nahrendorf M, Hu K, Frantz S, Jaffer F, Tung CH, Hiller KH, Voll S, Nordbeck P, Sosnovik D, Gattenlohner S, Novikov M, Dickneite G, Reed G, Jakob P, Rosenzweig A, Bauer W, Weissleder R, Ertl G. Factor XIII Deficiency Causes Cardiac Rupture, Impairs Wound Healing, and Aggravates Cardiac Remodeling in Mice with Myocardial Infarction. Circulation. 2006;113(9):1196-1202.
  9. Pittet M, Swirski F, Reynolds F, Josephson L, Weissleder R. Labeling of immune cells for in vivo imaging using magnetofluorescent nanoparticles. Nat Protocols. 2006;1(1):1-7.
  10. Chen JW, Querol Sans M, Bogdanov Jr A, Weissleder R. Imaging of myeloperoxidase in mice by using novel amplifiable paramagnetic substrates. Radiology. 2006;240 (2):473-81.
  11. Montet X, Weissleder R, Josephson L. Imaging pancreatic cancer with a peptide-nanoparticle conjugate targeted to normal pancreas. Bioconjug Chem. 2006;17(4):905-911.