Bruker Opens New Preclinical Imaging Center of Excellence for the Americas
Massachusetts Center will provide advanced development, demonstration and customer support capabilities
for Bruker’s unique multimodal preclinical imaging systems portfolio
BILLERICA, Massachusetts – January 29, 2014 – Bruker (NASDAQ: BRKR) today announced the official
opening of a new Preclinical Imaging Center of Excellence for the Americas in Billerica, Massachusetts. The facility offers
advanced development, demonstration and support facilities for Bruker’s industry-leading portfolio of preclinical imaging
instrumentation and multimodal platforms.
In showcasing both the individual imaging technologies and the benefits gained from combining multimodal
experiments, the Center will play a key role in promoting the successful application of complementary imaging information
in preclinical research in oncology, cardiology, inflammation, musculoskeletal imaging and the neurosciences.
Bruker customers will participate in an opening
symposium for the new center today, with many New England
research institutions and pharmaceutical companies present.
Speakers from Bruker’s management will be joined by
Srinivasan Mukundan Jr., MD/PhD, Chief of Neuroradiology at
Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, who will highlight
the importance of cutting-edge technology innovation for
preclinical imaging research, while adding translational
perspectives from the clinic. The event will allow members of
the preclinical imaging community to interact with the Bruker
Bruker’s new preclinical imaging Center of Excellence
imaging instruments, all running live in the lab.
“I am really excited to see the establishment of a full-featured, preclinical imaging laboratory in the Boston area,”
said Frederic Fahey, DSc, Director of Nuclear Medicine Physics at Boston Children's Hospital. “We look forward to the
development of many new collaborations and innovations as a result of this endeavor by Bruker.”
The new Bruker Center of Excellence represents a significant global infrastructure expansion for all technical
R&D, support and demonstration centers worldwide. Located at Bruker’s headquarters in Billerica, the new center features
dedicated lab space for showcasing the latest preclinical imaging technologies and multimodal platforms, together with tissue
culture and in vivo subject handling capabilities.
Utilizing Bruker’s preclinical instruments for demonstration and applications development in a single site,
visiting customers and Bruker scientists will be able to offer unparalleled levels of support and training, and provide access to
new combinations of imaging modalities. Multiple modalities such as optical imaging and X-ray, or PET and MRI enable
researchers to acquire complementary image information, e.g. on morphology and function, which is vital in the further
development of medical sciences and translational research.
“The Bruker Preclinical Imaging division is committed to providing cutting-edge tools and we are excited about
our ability to combine multiple modalities in one lab to help facilitate new insights for the imaging research community,”
commented Dr. Wulf Jung, President of Bruker BioSpin’s Preclinical Imaging division.
The new PCI Center provides access to MRI instruments including a 7 Tesla BioSpec® MRI system with a
unique MRI CryoProbe™, and an ICON™ compact, benchtop MRI system. Micro computed X-ray tomography (µCT) is
covered by several models, including the in vivo Skyscan™ 1176 and in vitro Skyscan 1272. The PCI lab also features four
optical molecular imaging systems for fluorescence, luminescence, planar x-ray and planar radio-isotopic imaging
experiments, with two in vivo Xtreme™ optical systems and two MS FX PRO™ optical imaging systems. The lab benefits
from a new electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) system, and a minispec™ system for body composition
analysis. A crucial component of employing multi-modality imaging in most research environments is having a
comprehensive suite of imaging technologies that include reliable co-registration devices. Bruker’s multimodal animal beds
enable flexible and versatile analyses of various animal models based on an easy and productive workflow. On the Bruker
Billerica campus, several MALDI mass spectrometry imaging systems are accessible for in vitro small molecule, lipids or
peptide/protein spectroscopic imaging. Additionally, a Bruker Albira II PET/SPECT/CT preclinical imaging system is
located nearby at Boston Children’s Hospital, with access to PET and SPECT isotopes.
About Bruker Corporation
Bruker Corporation is a leading provider of high performance scientific instruments and solutions for molecular and materials
research, as well as industrial, diagnostics and applied analysis. For more information, please visit www.bruker.com.
For more information on Bruker’s preclinical imaging solutions, please visit www.preclinicalimaging.com.
Media Contact:
Dr. Thorsten Thiel
Director of Marketing Communications
Bruker Corporation
T: +49 (721) 5161 – 6500
E: thorsten.thiel@bruker.com