# Multi-Modality Optical Molecular Imaging System for Preclinical Cancer Models

> **NIH NIH R42** · TRIFOIL IMAGING · 2024 · $399,491

## Abstract

Project Abstract
With the advent of fluorescence probes targeting specific cellular and subcellular events, the role
of fluorescent imaging in preclinical arena is getting rapidly stronger. Fluorescence probes mainly
consist of the active component, which interacts with the target, and the reporting component
such as the fluorescent dye. Operating in the near-infrared spectrum in which the tissue
absorption is minimum, these probes can be detected in vivo even if they are located deep in
mice. In addition, the advent of near infrared fluorescent proteins as powerful reporters for gene
expression studies enhanced the importance of the fluorescent whole-body imaging in small
animals. Our company currently offers the only gantry-based combined X-ray CT and Fluorescent
Tomography (FLT) system available in the market that can provide 3D whole-body fluorescent
images of mice along with anatomic X-ray images.
 Our main objective in this application is to upgrade our scanner using an intensified-CCD
(ICCD) camera that will mainly allow our system to provide Bioluminescence Tomography (BLT)
capability in addition to the FLT. Utilization of an ICCD camera will also enhance the FLT by
improving the sensitivity and image acquisition speed. Bioluminescence imaging enables
visualization of the genetically engineered luciferase gene-based reporter construct in living
animals. Application of bioluminescence imaging has grown tremendously in the past two
decades for many fields including immunology, oncology, virology and neuroscience due to its
unprecedented sensitivity and ease of use. Being gantry based, our upgraded system would be
able to acquire bioluminescence images from multiple views and reconstruct 3D BLT images,
which is not an option in any commercially available instruments at the moment. Capability of
acquiring perfectly co-registered X-ray CT, FLT, and BLT images will place this proposed system
and our company to the forefront of the optical molecular small animal imaging market.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10823044
- **Project number:** 1R42CA287798-01
- **Recipient organization:** TRIFOIL IMAGING
- **Principal Investigator:** GULTEKIN GULSEN
- **Activity code:** R42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $399,491
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10823044

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10823044, Multi-Modality Optical Molecular Imaging System for Preclinical Cancer Models (1R42CA287798-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10823044. Licensed CC0.

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