Small Animal Cancer Imaging (SACI)

LEADERSHIP: Joel Garbow, PhD and Kooresh Shoghi, PhD

Small Animal Cancer Imaging (SACI) is comprised of three components: Nuclear Imaging (NI), MRI and OI, representing three distinct imaging facilities in Washington University’s Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) Research Imaging Facilities (RIFs). The goal of SACI is to provide the intellectual infrastructure necessary to promote state-of-the-art small animal cancer imaging and theranostic research in support of Siteman members.  Small animal models are widely used throughout the cancer research community at Siteman. With rapid advances in molecular biology, transgenic animal models of human cancers have become an indispensable part of the cancer research armamentarium. In addition, patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDX) play a central role in the NCI’s precision medicine initiative in co-clinical trials. In this context, animal models of cancer are used to develop quantitative imaging biomarkers to detect cancer, its progression, and response to therapy. In addition, they provide a platform for developing image-guided therapeutic or radiotheranostic strategies. In vivo imaging procedures, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), and optical imaging (OI) provide a translational paradigm to that end. Importantly, they enable longitudinal, quantitative, and noninvasive studies within the same animal and can be integrated with complementary biological and molecular techniques (e.g., histopathology, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, multi-omics analyses) to enable a comprehensive, multi-scale understanding of tumor biology and treatment response. Protocols developed and validated with small animal models can be translated to the clinic.

LOCATION: Clinical Sciences Research Building (CSRB), Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, and East Building

PRICING: Please contact the core for the current pricing of services offered.

COMPONENT LEADERSHIP:

Nuclear Imaging
Kooresh Shoghi – 314-362-8990; [email protected]
Richard Laforest – 314-362-8423; [email protected]

Optical Imaging
Monica Shokeen – 314-362-8979; [email protected]
Rui Tang – 314-747-8287, [email protected]

Magnetic Resonance
Joel Garbow – 314-362-9949; [email protected]
James Quirk – 314-362-3875; [email protected]

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT:
Robert Massa – 314-747-1364; [email protected]

Small-Animal Cancer MRI Pilot Study Program

The MRI Component of the Small-Animal Cancer Imaging (SACI) Shared Resource uses annual funding from the Siteman Cancer Center (SCC) to subsidize cancer imaging studies performed through the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology’s (MIR) Small-Animal MR Facility (SAMRF).  This subsidy provides (i) a $25/scanner-hour reduction in the prime-time recharge rate for all SCC-related MRI studies and (ii) funds to cover personnel costs for selected pilot studies (including data acquisition and basic image analysis).  The purpose of the pilot program is to provide preliminary feasibility data in support of new, otherwise unfunded projects, that have the potential for future funding.  The program is not intended to support projects that already have research funding or routine service work that is not directed at securing additional future funding.

Principal investigators may apply for funds to cover personnel costs for up to 25 hours of MR data acquisition.  Funds are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Principal investigators are still responsible for SAMRF scanner recharge costs; e.g., $100/scanner-hour as of FY 2025 after the SACI-provided $25/scanner-hour reduction for cancer-related research projects.  A description of SAMRF and its charging schedule (see FAQs) may be found here.

Interested principal investigators are strongly encouraged to discuss their project with SACI MRI Component leadership — Joel Garbow ([email protected]) or Jim Quirk ([email protected]) — prior to submitting a pilot funding request.  Applicants should write a single paragraph providing a brief description of the imaging experiments and goals (e.g., longitudinal anatomic imaging to monitor tumor growth; diffusion weighted imaging to follow therapeutic response) and specific plans for seeking additional substantial funding in support of small-animal cancer research imaging.  The description should include a brief justification for the number of scanner hours requested.  Applications, which are accepted on a rolling basis, should be submitted electronically to Joel Garbow.  Individuals will be informed within two weeks of the decision on their request.

NIH Public Access Policy

As of April 7, 2008, the NIH requires investigators with a publication using Siteman (or other NIH-funded) shared resources to submit (or have submitted for them) their final, peer reviewed manuscripts to PubMed Central(PMC) upon acceptance of publication, to be made publicly available within 12 months of publication. Many journals automatically submit these for authors, but Washington University also has assistance available through the Becker Medical Library. Please see this site for more information.

Publication Acknowledgement

If research supported by the Small Animal Cancer Imaging shared resource results in publication, please acknowledge this support by including the following in your publication(s):

We thank the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO., for the use of the Small Animal Cancer Imaging shared resource, which provided __________ service. The Siteman Cancer Center is supported in part by an NCI Cancer Center Support Grant #P30 CA091842.