# Small animal combined PET/CT system

> **NIH NIH S10** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2020 · $750,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging at UCLA has a long and successful track record in the development
of molecular imaging technologies. These innovations have led to the creation of the Crump Preclinical
Imaging Technology Center, a campus-wide shared resource facility for in vivo imaging technologies and
services. This site is supported by a diverse faculty with considerable expertise in imaging physics, biomarker
development and preclinical imaging, as evidenced by the extensive publication record employing our imaging
technologies. This proposal requests funds to acquire the Sofie GNEXT integrated PET/CT system, a new
state-of-the-art small animal imaging system with integrated positron emission tomography (PET) and
computed tomography (CT) capabilities. This multi-modality system includes the highest resolution and
sensitivity PET system commercially available and a high resolution CT designed for routine animal imaging
with low radiation dose exposure. These improvements enable the UCLA research community to study
diseases in small animals at early, more clinically relevant stages, heterogeneity of tissues and malignancies,
and subcortical structures of the rodent brain. It will offer 8 times higher dynamic range, 10 times larger field of
view, and 3.5-folder higher volumetric resolution than currently available on our G8 PET/CT. These are all
applicable to our Major and Minor User projects discussed in the proposal. Furthermore, our investigators will
be able to access a larger panel of PET tracers and study novel biomarkers in vivo at earlier stages, both of
which are otherwise restricted by limitations in radiochemistry such as low yields and/or low specific activities.
The large 12-cm diameter field of view of both PET and CT enables imaging of large rats and up to four mice,
which improves throughput and experimental statistics. Our G8 PET/CT is designed only for mouse-sized
whole body imaging and does not offer high-resolution CT capabilities. The GNEXT system will replace older
and unsupported stand-alone PET and CT systems that have seen increasing downtime in recent years and
are no longer considered state-of-the-art. Basic operating costs and staff salaries are supported through sales-
and-service recharges and grants from the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and the NanoSystems
Biology Cancer Center. Institutional support is provided to offset any difference in cost of GNEXT after
applicable taxes. Our Advisory Committee, the Resource Allocation Committee, meets on a weekly basis and
will continue to do so to resolve scheduling conflicts and disputes should they arise. Our shared resource
facility has extensive experience in preclinical PET/CT imaging and our director and full-time staff will continue
to provide user trainings through regular workshops and didactic graduate courses in the Department of
Molecular and Medical Pharmacology. Our broad expertise in PET and CT imaging technologies and ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9940802
- **Project number:** 1S10OD026917-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** ARION Xenofon CHATZIIOANNOU
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $750,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9940802

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9940802, Small animal combined PET/CT system (1S10OD026917-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9940802. Licensed CC0.

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