UTHealth Houston 7T MRI Preclinical Core Facility

Background

The 7T preclinical MRI core facility is part of the MRI Imaging Center at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. It houses a state-of-the-art simultaneous 7T Bruker PET-MRI system. Conventional and advanced MR techniques are available on the system, which includes 2D and 3D gradient echo, spin echo, fast spin echo, ultrashort echo, and EPI sequences, diffusion tensor or diffusion weighted imaging, MR angiography, Dixon, ASL, magnetization transfer imaging, CEST imaging, MR spectroscopy and chemical shift imaging. The system is also capable of multi-nuclear spectroscopy and imaging.  The Si 198 3-ring PET insert has an axial FOV of 150 mm, capable of mouse whole-body imaging with a spatial resolution of 0.8 mm (Derenzo). The facility also has physiological monitoring equipment that allows cardiac gating, respiratory gating, and temperature regulation.

We offer imaging services in a wide range of research areas, such as stroke, oncology, cardiology, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, knee injury, and liver diseases. The center also has a surgical suite available to users for minor surgical procedures. Our expert team can help you implement various imaging methods and optimize imaging protocols to meet your research needs. We can also assist you with image analysis for deriving quantitative metrics. The center can also help the investigators with AWC animal protocol and grant preparations.

Services:  

MRI in vivo
MRI ex vivo 
PET/MRI
Surgical room access
Behavior room access

Applications

The in vivo PET/MRI service at the facility includes conventional and advanced MR and PET imaging, Such as:

  • 2D and 3D gradient echo and spin echo imaging
  • 2D and 3D fast spin echo, ultrashort echo, and EPI sequences
  • Quantitative T2 and T2* mapping using multi-echo spin-echo and gradient-echo methods, respectively
  • Quantitative T1 mapping using Inversion Recovery (IR), Saturation Recovery, and variable flip angle methods
  • Diffusion tensor or IVIM, diffusion-weighted imaging
  • Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE) MRI for measuring vascular permeability
  • Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast (DSC) MRI for measuring blood volume, blood flow, and blood vessel caliber.
  • MR angiography
  • Dixon in phase and out of phase for body fat imaging
  • ASL for CBF measurement
  • Magnetization transfer imaging, CEST imaging
  • MR spectroscopy and chemical shift imaging.
  • Resting-state fMRI
  • Cardiac imaging
  • Body MRI
  • PET Tracers that the users purchase, FDG, PSMA, Tau-amyloid, etc.

The ex vivo MRI service at the facility includes 3D high-resolution anatomical and diffusion tensor imaging. We will accommodate users with other imaging needs based on scanner capability.

Our 7T Preclinical Services also include Behavioral Assessments

  • Computer Activity Monitoring
  • Mechanical Conflict Avoidance Assay
  • Morris Water Maze
  • Randal-Selitto Assay
  • Von Frey Assay
  • Foot Fault Assay

Contact Juan Herrera to check out the Behavioral Core schedule for open time slots and submit requests through iLab.

Getting Started

  • All imaging studies must have an AWC-approved animal protocol. Make sure the imaging procedure is covered in the protocol. We are not allowed to scan without the approved protocol.
  • Finish the MRI safety class offered through LearnToSucceed
  • Fill out the user account form and email it to Nelly Arias or Shuning Huang
  • Contact Shuning Huang to check out the scanner schedule for open time slots and submit scan requests through iLab.

Contact

The 7T preclinical MRI core facility is located on the ground floor of McGovern Medical School (MSB), Suite G.604 (6431 Fanning Street, Houston, TX, 77030). For more information or questions about using our 7T preclinical core facility, please call our facility at 713-500-5925 or contact Dr. Shuning Huang.

We look forward to working with your research team.

Service Charges

Scan Time Charges

  • In vivo MRI: $200/hr for users from UT System, $300/hr for users from external non-profit organizations, and $400/hr for users from external for-profit organizations.
  • Ex vivo MRI: $200/sample for users from UT System, $300/sample for users from external non-profit organizations, and $400/sample for users from external for-profit organizations.
  • PET: at cost

These charges include anesthesia (isoflurane), contrast agent, and the use of a surgical suite. Investigators are responsible for administering any injectable anesthetic agents.

Data Analysis Charge

  • MRI data analysis: $300/dataset for users from UT System, $450/dataset for users from external non-profit organizations, and $600/dataset for users from external for-profit organizations.
  • PET/MRI data analysis: $500/dataset for users from UT System, $750/dataset for users from external non-profit organizations, and $1000/dataset for users from external for-profit organizations.

Cancellation and no-show policy:

No-shows or reservations canceled in less than 24 hours will be charged a setup fee of $200.