# Small Animal Imaging Facility

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2022 · $2,136

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – Small Animal Imaging Facility
The Small Animal Imaging Facility (SAIF) is the Abramson Cancer Center's (ACC) Shared Resource that
provides state-of-the-art instrumentation, renowned faculty and technical support staff with the expertise
necessary to apply a broad range of imaging modalities to small animal models. The SAIF was formed in 2006
as an amalgamation of existing cores and equipment and has grown steadily in both available resources and
usage since its founding. Supported modalities in the SAIF include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), single photon emission computed
tomography (SPECT), ultrasound imaging, photoacoustic imaging and optical/bioluminescence imaging.
Upgrades added since the last renewal include one new optical scanner (2016), one PET and two CT
scanners (2017), complete console upgrade of one of the MRI scanners (2018) and an intraoperative
fluorescence scanner (2019). The SAIF also provides housing for rats and mice, allowing longitudinal imaging
studies to be performed over an extended period. Dr. James Delikatny was appointed as Director of the
Optical/Bioluminescence Sub Core in 2010 and overall Director of SAIF in 2014 and continues in that capacity.
Dr. Stephen Pickup has served as the Technical Director and Director of the MRI Sub Core since the founding
of the SAIF. The resource is composed of four sub-cores, each focusing on a particular group of imaging
modalities and led by faculty with extensive experience. The SAIF provides critical support to the ground-
breaking research efforts of many ACC members. These high-impact investigations include: tracking of T-cells
and tumor cells in animal models of CAR-T immunotherapy (Drs. June, Gill, Milone, Powell, Ruella),
development of imaging methods for measuring tumor metabolism using hyperpolarized MRI (Dr. Gade) or
PET with F-18 labeled glutamine (Drs. Zhou, Mankoff) and translation of targeted fluorescent dyes developed
for optical imaging in animal models into the surgical realm for intraoperative detection of tumor margins and
micrometastases (Drs. Singhal, Delikatny). ACC members accounted for 41 of 76 investigators (54%) using
the Shared Resource during the most recent reporting period (07/01/18-06/30/19). SAIF supports the research
of six ACC Programs (Breast Cancer, Cancer Therapeutics, Hematologic Malignancies, Immunobiology,
Radiobiology and Imaging, and Tumor Biology). Non-invasive small animal imaging is critically important to
cancer biology and cancer therapy and the SAIF continues to be the essential resource for advancing cutting-
edge and rigorous research in this area.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10330985
- **Project number:** 5P30CA016520-46
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** EDWARD J DELIKATNY
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $2,136
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-01-15 → 2025-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10330985

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10330985, Small Animal Imaging Facility (5P30CA016520-46). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10330985. Licensed CC0.

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