In-Vivo Functional Onco-Imaging

Facility Description

July 2018

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 data analysis. 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 not only used for 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 that includenovel ways to follow tumor responses, new therapy techniques,andthe 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 MRI/Optical and Hybrid MRI/Nuclear imaging platformsare under development for breast, prostate and ovarian cancer research.Anothergoal 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 such as CHOC, UCLA, UC Riverside, and City of Hope. 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

i)Services for clinical or preclinical studies:

  • Design imaging studies to integrate them into current research projects
  • Set-up of imaging protocols
  • Train and assist researchers to conduct imaging and data 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: 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 (human and animal)