# ShEEP Request for High Resolution Desktop MicroCT System

> **NIH VA IS1** · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · 2022 · —

## Abstract

Requested Equipment: This request is for a Bruker Skyscan 1272 CMOS Edition high-resolution desktop
microcomputed tomography (microCT) system, a 16-sample automatic tube changer with custom 3D printed
sample tubes, a calcium-hydroxy apatite bone mineral density (BMD) phantom set, and a computer
workstation with Bruker software necessary to operate the system and visualize / analyze 3D datasets.
Equipment Justification: The North Florida / South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS) is the
largest VA healthcare system in the US and has a robust research program with diverse imaging needs. To
address this, NF/SGVHS established the Preclinical Musculoskeletal Imaging Core (PMIC) Lab, a centralized
preclinical imaging core facility. For more than a decade, the PMIC Lab has provided access to and training on
microCT systems, along with fee basis imaging, to scientists at NF/SGVHS and at other VA and academic
centers. The Skyscan 1172 (old model) microCT is the most utilized PMIC Lab Core Equipment. However, this
system is >10-years old and at its expected end-of-life. To facilitate our ongoing imaging needs, we request a
Skyscan 1272 (new model) high-resolution microCT. The Skyscan 1272 is the highest resolution microCT on
the market and images fine details as small as 0.45 µm (submicron resolution), using phase-contrast
enhancement, which will improve our ability to image small anatomical structures (e.g., microvasculature, bone
lacunae, and nerve fascicles). The 16-sample tube changer is an accessory that is exclusive to the Skyscan
1272, which automatically changes sample tubes upon completion of a scan and initiates each new scan via
user programmed software. In doing so, the tube changer increases device availability by allowing continuous
24-hr/day microCT scanning without direct user supervision. This will permit us to grow our user base by
simultaneously increasing device availability and by reducing microCT costs, due to less technician time. In
doing so, we will be able to recruit Users who may not be able to typically afford high-resolution imaging (e.g.,
those collecting preliminary data for proposals), which will increase our likelihood of success on future VA and
non-VA grants that are increasingly dependent upon the use of high-resolution imaging.
Projected Use: We have 4 Major VA Users, 5 Minor VA Users, and 8 Academic Users (17 total users) who
have ongoing or expected microCT needs. Major Users have VA Merit, Career Development, Cooperative
Study, and/or Small Projects in Rehabilitation Research awards. Minor Users have funding via the same VA
mechanisms and/or from NIH, DOD, or private foundations. Academic Users have tertiary microCT priority,
which is facilitated via fee basis imaging, assuming the research does not interfere with Major / Minor Users
and is relevant to Veterans’ health. We anticipate 40+ hours/week of microCT use throughout the lifespan of
this equipment, based on past microCT use and future projections. VA Us...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10538047
- **Project number:** 1IS1BX006057-01
- **Recipient organization:** VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Joshua F. Yarrow
- **Activity code:** IS1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10538047

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10538047, ShEEP Request for High Resolution Desktop MicroCT System (1IS1BX006057-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10538047. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*