# Fred Hutch Preclinical 3T MRI

> **NIH NIH S10** · FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER · 2020 · $600,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This proposal is for a cryogen free magnetic resonance scanner (Bruker Biospec 3T) to support basic
and preclinical small animal research within the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Fred Hutch),
University of Washington (UW), and Seattle Children's Hospital (SCH) Cancer Consortium. Purchase of
a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner comparable to that used in a clinical setting in patients will greatly
expand and enhance our imaging capabilities to provide small animal imaging critical for translational
research in cancer and related diseases. Despite low image resolution, use of our cryogen free 1T MR
(Bruker ICON), purchased in 2014, has grown significantly over the last few years for studies using
immunocompromised and fragile animal models of cancer and other diseases. Currently 1T MR
resolution is inadequate for many NIH supported studies including early diagnosis and intervention,
evaluation of metastatic disease and therapeutic response in various models like lung cancer,
glioblastoma, and immunotherapy. The Biospec 3T model will be a significant jump in small animal
imaging capabilities due to its significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio and resolution, high accuracy
animal positioning system and the ability to do tumor perfusion studies. These features will improve
efficiency in study throughput by: 1) reducing image acquisition time; 2) decreasing animal use as
improved image data will allow earlier identification of lesions and enrollment in pre-clinical studies; 3)
better assessing treatment efficacy; and 4) enabling the evaluation of experimental results in real time
across multiple imaging modalities without the need for time consuming anatomical alignment. The
system's novel cryogen free technology reduces maintenance needs and improves safety and the
software platform facilitates collaborations across institutions because it already is used in our
institutions. This MRI adds to available local preclinical resources as this is the only 3T small animal-
specific system in the Seattle area. Designed for animals, it allows reproduction of human quality clinical
image acquisition without the disadvantages of using a human system. This 3T will allow direct
comparison of preclinical and clinical sequences for image acquisition. Fred Hutch is in the midst of and
planning on significant faculty recruitment as well as increasing collaborative efforts across the Seattle
region through programs such as the Seattle Translational Tumor Research program and the
multidisciplinary Integrated Research Centers. New faculty and personnel who Fred Hutch has recruited
and is partnering with have significant need and opportunity for preclinical imaging. The acquisition of
this MRI will meet this current need, growing demand, and be a catalyst for driving preclinical research
in the Pacific Northwest region.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9940804
- **Project number:** 1S10OD026919-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Eric C. Holland
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $600,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9940804

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9940804, Fred Hutch Preclinical 3T MRI (1S10OD026919-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9940804. Licensed CC0.

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