Molecular Imaging, an unparalleled and powerful technique for observing and quantifying molecular, cellular and physiological processes, is being utilized at an ever-increasing rate in both clinical and research environments. Utilizing specific radiotracers to noninvasively monitor and measure multiple biomolecular processes (including compound pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, metabolic and enzymatic activity, receptor, distribution and occupancy, gene expression, hypoxia, and apoptosis), molecular imaging is ideal for obtaining translational data, linking animal efficacy, toxicology and ADME directly to the human clinical setting.

MPI Research Sponsors have found that our Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and microCT (CT) imaging services add significant value to their research. Known for their ability to generate distinctive, longitudinal data sets, PET, and CT produce tomographic images amenable to extensive processing and analysis, for both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional regions of interest.

With protocols applicable from mouse to man, molecular imaging can add critical cross-species and translational data to discovery and development programs.

Study Design
Protocols can be designed with functional and/or anatomical imaging endpoints. For example, in oncology research, anatomical and functional imaging provide opportunities for sophisticated datasets assessing tumor standardized uptake value (SUV) and growth rates, therapeutics mechanism of action, disease progression and response to therapy. In CNS research, functional imaging allows the direct assessment of CNS penetration, brain kinetics and dynamics. Unique, whole body, continuous distribution data for small molecules and biologics can be efficiently generated with functional imaging. Compound quantitation in selectable regions of interest can provide data for tissue pharmacokinetics, antibody and peptide targeting assessments and cell trafficking.

Services/Capabilities

Anatomic Imaging Services

• Applications
  • Bone
  • Bone healing
  • Arthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Oncology
  • Tumor volumes
  • Orthopedic models
  • Vascular
  • Respiratory
• Equipment (Siemens microCAT II)
  • Transferable bed to facilitate image fusion
  • Wide FOV, whole body mouse scanning
  • High energy, variable x-ray source
  • Ultra-high resolution (15uM)
  • Real-time image reconstruction
  • Amira image processing

Functional Imaging Services

• Equipment (Siemens Focus^TM 120)
  • Respiratory and cardiac gated scans
  • High sensitivity LSO crystals
  • PET and Fused PET/CT
  • Image quantitation
  • Time activity curves
  • Industry leading sensitivity and resolution
• Radiotracers
  • ¹⁸FDG for inflammation, tumor growth, myocardial viability
  • ¹⁸FLT, ¹⁸FMAU for DNA synthesis, tumor growth assessments
  • Na¹⁸F for osteogenic activity
  • ⁶⁴Cu, ⁶⁸Ga, ¹²⁴I, peptide, oligonucleotide, siRNA, antibody and cell labeling
• Applications
  • Tumor model studies
    • Xenograft tumor SUV
    • Orthotopic models
    • Metastasis models
    • Mechanistic studies
  • Bone growth/healing
  • Distribution (peptides, antibodies, cells)
  • Receptor localization
  • Gene expression

Equipment
The Molecular Imaging Center at MPI Research is equipped with the following:

• Siemens Focus^TM 120 PET tomograph: This is a full ring tomograph equipped with high sensitivity LSO crystals. Cardiac and respiratory gated scans, image quantitation and time activity curve generation are possible.
• Siemens microCAT II: Equipped with a variable focus high energy x-ray source capable of 15uM resolution, the microCAT II has a large (165mm) detector that allows for large specimens. It also features real-time image reconstruction software speeds data collection.

With industry leading sensitivity, resolution and field of view, these instruments provide state-of-the-art imaging in preclinical research.

For information about the molecular imaging services offered by MPI Research, please contact molecularimag@mpiresearch.com or call (269) 668-3336, Ext. 2286.

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