In-Vivo Functional Onco-Imaging
Facility Description
August 2015
The overarching aim of the In-Vivo Functional Onco-Imaging (IVFOI) Facility is to support basic and clinical
cancer researchers with expertise in imaging instrumentation and analysis techniques. In addition to
providing services with standard preclinical and clinical imaging systems available at most institutions, the
IVFOI works to integrate molecular and structural imaging modalities to provide exclusive, first-of-its-kind
multi-modality imaging technologies. In this regard, IVFOI imaging is used for not only a better
understanding of the fundamental biochemical nature of cancer, but also for development of new contrast
agents and molecular pathway-specific imaging probes. These modalities are utilized by UCI researchers
for a broad range of applications from following tumor response, to new therapy techniques, to the
development of novel molecular probes targeting cancer. A second goal of the IVFOI is to translate new
imaging modalities to the clinical research arena. Novel imaging techniques such as hybrid MR/Optical and
Hybrid MR/Nuclear imaging platforms are under development for breast, prostate and ovarian cancer
research. A third goal of the facility is to support translational clinical studies with precise protocol execution
and high standard quality controls. The final goal is to leverage the facility’s nationwide network to increase
collaboration between UCI researchers and investigators from other institutions. The IVFOI is a Shared
Resource funded in part by the Chao Family NCI-Comprehensive Cancer Center Support Grant
(P30CA062203) from the National Cancer Institute. Contact information for this resource can be found at
https://www.cancer.uci.edu/resources/in-vivo-functional-oncoimaging.asp.
i)
Services for clinical or preclinical studies:
 Design imaging studies to integrate them into current research projects
 Set-up of imaging protocols
 Help imaging acquisition
 Perform data analysis/ prospective or retrospective data sets
 Help preparing materials for researcher’s future grant applications
ii) Instrumentation on Irvine campus:
 MR: 3.0 T (human)
 MR: 4.0 T (human and animal )
 MR: 9.4 T (animal)
 Combined MRI & Optical Tomography (animal)
 Combined X-ray micro CT & Fluorescence Tomography (animal)
 Hybrid MRI & SPECT (animal)
iii) Instrumentation at the UCI Medical Center:
 PET/CT (clinical scanner available at UCIMC)
 SPECT/CT (clinical scanner available at UCIMC)
 MR (1.5 & 3 T - clinical scanner available at UCIMC)
iv) Systems currently under development or under acquisition:
 Micro SPECT/CT (Hitachi, animal)
 Micro PET/CT (Siemens, animal)
 MRI Sodium Imaging (brain cancer)
 Hybrid MRI/Scintimammography (breast cancer)
 Hybrid MRI/Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) (breast cancer)
 Temperature-modulated Fluorescence Tomography (animal)
 Photo-magnetic Imaging (animal)