UTSW Pre-Clinical MRI Research Core

Preclinical MRI Core

Overview of Services

The Pre-Clinical MRI Research Core of the Advanced Imaging Research Center at the UTSouthwestern provides pre-clinical Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging services for investigators at UT Southwestern and other campuses in the Dallas area.

Core services offered:

Conduct MRI experiments on small animal models
Analyze image data
Design imaging protocols
Develop and implement new imaging and analysis methods
Train MR operations
Collaborate on research grants

MRI Scanners

3 T Bruker Biospec (id: 10.5 cm, gradient strength: 450 mT/m, max slew rate: 4200 m/T/s) equipped with motorized positioning system and located in the same room as the SpinAligner for efficient hyperpolarized imaging.
7 T Bruker BioSpec (id: 11.4 cm, gradient strength: 440 mT/m, max slew rate: 3440 m/T/s) equipped with 4 receiver channels for parallel imaging.
9.4 T Bruker BioSpec (id: 11.4 cm, gradient strength: 660 mT/m, max slew rate: 4570 m/T/s) equipped with 4 receiver channels for parallel imaging.

All scanners are equipped with the following:

broadband transmitter/receiver channel supporting ¹H arterial spin labeling and X nuclei (¹⁹F, ¹³C, ³¹P, ²³Na, ¹²⁹Xe) MRI/MRS with ¹H decoupling
linear, 2^nd and 3^rd order shims
RF interface adapter for 3^rd party or home built RF coils

RF coils

3 T : transmit/receive 72 mm quad volume, transmit/receive 40 mm quad volume, transmit/receive 23 mm quad volume, transmit/receive ¹H/¹³C dual resonant 40 mm quad, receive only ¹H/¹³C dual resonant 20 mm linear surface.
7 T: transmit/receive 86 mm quad volume, transmit/receive 72 mm quad volume, transmit/receive 40 mm quad volume, receive only 10 mm linear surface, receive only 20 mm linear surface, receive only 30 mm linear surface, receive only 4x4 surface array.
9.4 T: transmit/receive quad volume, MRI CryoProbe^TM, cryogenically cooled, anatomically shaped 2x2 receive only coil for mouse applications, MRI CryoProbe^TM, cryogenically cooled, anatomically shaped 2x2 receive only coil for rat applications.

Animal maintenance support

Physiological monitoring and gating system (temperature, respiration and ECG)
Water based body temperature conditioning system
Cradles for precision positioning of animals
Rodent anesthesia system
Animal holding rooms for rats and mice
Animal Prep room equipped with surgical surface, stereomicroscope, fume hood, and medical gas.

Standard MRI Methods and Protocols

Fast gradient echo (FLASH, FcFLASH, SegFLASH)
Multiple slice multiple spin echo (MSME)
Fast spin echo (RARE)
T1-weighted fast spin echo (MDEFT)
Steady state free precision imaging (FISP)
Non-localized pulse & acquire (SINGLEPULSE, NSPECT)
Dixon fat/water imaging
CEST imaging
Susceptibility weighted Imaging (SWI)
Relaxometry (RARE-VTR, MGE)
Automatic B0 homogenization (MAPSHIM, AUTOSHIM)
Automatic B1 field mapping and phase calibration (B1MAP)
Triggered acquisition
Localized Spectroscopy: PRESS, STEAM, ISIS
Chemical Shift Imaging: CSI, EPSI
Diffusion imaging methods: DTI-SE, DTI-EPI, T1-EPI, T2-EPI, T2*-EPI, DTI-Spiral
MRI, DCE and Perfusion methods: EPI, CASL-EPI, FAIR-EPI, FAIR-
RARE Spiral
IntraGate® wireless cardiac imaging methods: IgFLASH, IgUTE
Advanced Angiography: Flowmap
Short TE: UTE, UTE3D, ZTE, RAREst

Hyper-polarizer

Spin Aligner

7 T persistent, dry magnet with low drift rate and fixed leads (Cryogenic Ltd).
Re-condensing, variable temperature insert with base temperature of <1.4 K; temperature controllable to 300 K continuously.
No liquid cryogens needed. Cooling provided by Sumitomo SRP-082B cold head and F-70H compressor.
Microwave frequency 188 ± 2.0 GHz / frequency modulation / pulse modulation / gating / 100 mW / 20 dB attenuation.
NMR probe tuned for 13C (72 MHz). NMR coil tuned remotely to provide flexibility for other nuclei.
Solid-state NMR spectrometer for measuring polarization build-up.
Based on RS2D Cameleon 4, T/R switch, 300 W amplifier (5-310 MHz) and SPINit software.
Fluid path optimized for dissolution of pre-clinical and in vitro samples.
Fully automated software control.

Leadership

Janaka Wansapura, PhD
Director, Pre-Clinical MRI Research Core
Advanced Imaging Research Center
janaka.wansapura@utsouthwestern.edu

Anke Henning, PhD
Director, Advanced Imaging Research Center
anke.henning@utsouthwestern.edu

Location and hours of operation

Hours	Location
Open: 24/7 Staffed: Monday to Friday: 8am-6pm	Rooms: NE2.726

Links and Resources

Contacts

Name	Role	Phone	Email	Location
Janaka Wansapura, Ph.D	Director, Pre-Clinical MRI Research Core	x52733	janaka.wansapura@utsouthwestern.edu	NE4.204
Brenda Aston	Billing Coordinator		brenda.aston@utsouthwestern.edu	NE4.104

Map

https://www.google.com/maps/search/advanced+imaging+research+center+utsw/@32.8199608,-96.8431237,18z/data=!3m1!4b1?entry=ttu