Preclinical MRI
Pre-clinical MRI Facilities
We perform pre-clinical MRI studies using a 7T Varian DirectDrive horizontal bore scanner.
The system has a bore size of 21cm suitable for studies in rodents. It is equipped with a wide range of MR coils, full anaesthesia and monitoring system.
We have capabilities for both imaging and metabolic studies using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). This includes non-proton measurements where we have substantial expertise.
Our imaging protocols span conventional methods through to novel sequence development and optimisation.
CT imaging is also now available in Newcastle. The high-resolution computed tomography system has now become an important tool in biological research enabling non-invasive inspection of anatomical changes in small animals. The advantages of CT include high-spatial resolution, high sensitivity to bone and lung, short scan time and ultra-low radiation dose. In material sciences, CT represents 3D microscopy, where very fine scale (9 micron) internal structures are imaged non-destructively, without the need for staining or slicing.
Find out more about our preclinical MRI equipment on the Newcastle Preclinical In Vivo Imaging's website.