Groundwork for a Synchrotron MicroCT Imaging Resource for Biology (SMIRB)

NIH RePORTER · NIH · R24 · $146,598 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Abstract In the current supplement, we request funds to build and test a custom lens and camera system that enables an unprecedented combination of 12 mm diameter field-of-view at 0.7 µm isotropic voxel resolution. Our objective is to expand the utility of synchrotron microCT proposed in the parent award to enable full- volume 3D imaging at cell resolution samples as wide as 12 mm, such as human biopsies and mouse tissues, and to create a web-based integrative bio-atlas that provides a critical means of comparisons, multi-scale, and multi-modal integrations. This effort will significantly broaden the application of synchrotron microCT to a wide range of sample sizes and model system samples, which will yield 3D image data critical for the development of computational phenomics. We intend to make these 3D images publicly available on a web-based “bio-atlas” to function as a foundation for the creation of a multi-model multi-modal reference atlas, inclusive of histology, 3D image data, and -omics data. We will achieve these goals through three interrelated specific aims: 1) confirm the theoretical resolution and imaging speed of the lens and camera system in our in-house microCT system using real samples, 2) compare image quality and image speeds obtained with the lens and camera system using synchrotron sources with those on our local source, and 3) create a integrative web-based infrastructure to host 2D and 3D data and develop multiple tools for viewing, labeling, and cross-referencing to allow comparison-based validation of animal models of human disease. The pan-cellular, full volume nature of the 3D images will add invaluable spatial information to histology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics data.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10406016
Project number
3R24OD018559-07S2
Recipient
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR
Principal Investigator
Keith Chi Cheng
Activity code
R24
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2021
Award amount
$146,598
Award type
3
Project period
2015-08-15 → 2023-07-31