Organisation profile
About us
A central imaging facility dedicated to small animal imaging is set up in the basement of the CBBM research building.
It will include S2 (biosafety level 2) laboratories dedicated to the following imaging methods:
- Optical Imaging (multi-photon microscopy, optical coherence microscopy)
- Magnetic Particle Imaging
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Multimodal Positron Emission Tomography / Computed Tomography
Animal care rooms are available for the animals under study.
A separate animal care room is dedicated to radioactive animals.
SAIL includes S2 (biosafety level 2) laboratories dedicated to the following imaging methods:
MPI Magnetic Particle Imaging
- Purpose: visualize magnetic nanoparticle tracers in blood vessels
- Animal size: rats and mice
- Status: installed
- System: Bruker
- Strengths: speed, sensitivity
MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Purpose: reference images for MPI studies, independent soft tissue studies
- Strengths: soft tissue contrast, access to diffusion, contrast agent distribution
Contact: Institute of Medical Engineering
Expert: Martin Koch
Nuclear Imaging
PET/CT - Positron Emission Tomography / Computed Tomography
- Purpose PET: visualize and quantify the spatial and temporal distribution of specific radiopharmaceuticals and other substances radiolabelled in situ.
- Purpose CT: visualize anatomy and morphological changes
- Strengths: „molecular imaging“, in vivo functional information, anatomy (CT)
Contact: Institute of Medical Engineering
Experts: Magdalena Rafecas, Steven Seeger
For further information please refer to the project website.
Optical Intravital Imaging
- Purpose: Intravital imaging at sub-cellular resolution (surface / mm-depth)
- Status: Several systems for optical coherence (OCT) and multi-photon microscopy are already working under S1/S2 conditions in the BMO and CBBM; RAMAN microscopy for molecular contrast and endoscopic devices are being developed
- Strengths: Sub-cellular resolution, specific staining as well as endogenous contrast available for morphological and functional imaging; translation to clinical diagnosis possible
Experts: Gereon Hüttmann, Peter König