The Arizona State University Preclinical Imaging Core is a multidisciplinary center that serves a network of researchers in the biomedical imaging community. This facility is equipped with advanced multi-modal imaging technologies, including an MR Solutions Multi-Field (3-, 7-, & 9.4T) MRI, IVIS Lumina S5 for bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging, and TriTom Photoacoustic Imager, to support their research endeavors. These state-of-the-art imaging technologies are proven and powerful tools that have advanced healthcare globally thanks to its non- or minimally- invasive nature and continuous improvements in technique.
Since 2009, a joint effort between the Barrow Neurological Institute and Arizona State University, the Barrow-ASU Center for Preclinical Imaging, has been providing a unique service to researchers across the Phoenix area and endeavors to advance biosciences across Arizona. The BNI Bruker 7T MRI has been a resource that has provided data for numerous publications and grant applications. The imaging center has been used by over 50 investigators for over 100 studies since its inception.
In 2022, our preclinical imaging resources were expanded across multiple sites with the installation of a 3-field MR Solutions MRI at the Arizona State University campus. The new MRI can be set at one of 3 fields: 3T (similar to what is used in the clinic), 7T (which matches the magnet at BNI) and 9.4T (the first of its kind in Arizona). The new magnet located at the Magnetic Resonance Research Center is a valuable resource for the development of new cutting-edge imaging methods. Investigators can use this resource to examine, in vivo, both anatomy and function in their preclinical models. In addition to advanced technology, the Center for Preclinical Imaging also provides imaging expertise to help researchers develop and implement their imaging protocols.