TRANSLATIONAL IMAGING CENTER (TIC

Reconstructed computed tomography (CT) image of the whole body of a sheep

Positron emission tomography (PET) images with computed tomography (CT) attenuation and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a pig’s heart

TIC is a CVMBS unit located within the Texas A&M Institute for Preclinical Studies (TIPS) building with the vision “To be a world class research center for all imaging needs”. TIC was established to cater to the imaging needs of large animal translational research studies in a wide variety of medical/scientific disciplines including surgery, biomedical engineering, pathology, interventional cardiology, neurology, and chemistry. We support some small animal imaging as well.

Our Siemens Magnetom Verio 3T MRI system has a 70cm wide bore diameter and imaging capabilities include routine MR (with/without contrast), cardiac-gated, vascular, angiographic, perfusion, spectroscopic, and echo-planar. Our advanced imaging supports functional MRI (fMRI).

Our Siemens Biograph mCT includes both CT and PET capabilities. The CT scanner is 128-slice and has a 20cm field of view (FOV) time-of-flight PET scanner. Imaging capabilities include routine anatomic CTs (with/without contrast), cardiacgated CT angiography, CT perfusion, and medical device imaging. PET imaging capabilities encompass use of a variety of radioisotopes for biodistribution and kinetics analysis.

Our Philips Allura Xper FD20 C-arm cardiac catheterization lab with 3D reconstruction fluoroscopy is housed within an operating room and offers high resolution imaging support for advanced cardiovascular and interventional radiological applications.

Our range of imaging modalities also includes a GE Vivid E9 4-dimensional ultrasound, a Siemens Avantic Arcadis portable fluoroscopy system, and a Fujifilm computed radiography system. TIC has dedicated Siemens 3D workstations, a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and other specialized software to support data processing and analysis needs of various imaging studies. In addition, TIC staff also offer assistance with all Institutional Animal Care and Use Protocol-related paperwork, expertise on planning imaging scan protocols, facilitation of pilot studies, as well as advanced veterinary care pre, during, and post imaging.

TIC is involved in collaborative research studies with several different user groups within the CVMBS, as well as researchers in other colleges including Health Science Center, Liberal Arts, and Engineering. In addition, TIC caters to the imaging research needs of other universities and private companies. This places TIC in a strategic position to facilitate translational and multi-disciplinary research opportunities. In FY20, TIC has collaborated in more than 20 internal and federal grant proposals.