PROJECT SUMMARY/ ABSTRACT This proposal is for a VisualSonics Vevo 3100 ultrasound unit to support preclinical small animal research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Fred Hutch), University of Washington (UW) and Seattle Children’s Hospital, all members of the NCI-designated Fred Hutch / UW Cancer Consortium. The new ultrasound system will be housed within the highly successful Fred Hutch Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource which is part of the Consortium’s overarching Translational BioImaging Core Shared Resource. Purchase of a Vevo 3100 Preclinical Imaging System will provide needed additional capacity and higher quality image visualization for oncology studies in rodent models. Ultrasound has become the preclinical standard for high- throughput evaluation of solid tumors in both orthotopic and heterotopic locations, and for precision percutaneous injection techniques necessary for preclinical cancer research. Currently, Fred Hutch Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource has a VisualSonics Vevo 2100 ultrasound imaging unit housed in a newly renovated ultrasound suite in the Small Animal Facility. This existing instrument supports at least nine users’ projects across three Fred Hutch Divisions and three multidisciplinary and/or multi-institutional Research Centers. These projects are funded through 13 NIH-sponsored grants and 6 non- NIH sponsored grants. The Vevo 2100 is also used by other shared resource groups, such as the Preclinical Model Core, to support additional NIH-funded research. Acquiring the Vevo 3100 Preclinical Imaging Ultrasound System would provide multiple benefits for researchers, including increased availability for imaging time and expanded research capabilities for advanced cancer studies through HD imaging and artifact reduction, superior to that of the Vevo 2100. The demand for the ultrasound machine is such that existing users find it difficult to book sufficient time for their research studies. The Principal Investigator, Dr. Sunil Hingorani, along with the Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource director and associated personnel, will support the use of this machine through his broad ultrasound expertise. Although there are other Vevo 3100 ultrasound systems in the Seattle area, these are unavailable to our users for a variety of logistical and research-related reasons. Through excellent institutional support, the Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource has continued to grow and will support this new instrument, ensuring high quality maintenance and oversight. The acquisition of the Vevo 3100 ultrasound will meet our growing demand and further serve as a catalyst for driving preclinical research in the Pacific Northwest region.