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Micro-Computed Tomography (microCT)

The Animal Imaging Shared Resource (AISR) offers animal and specimen microCT acquisitions and image analysis to CU Cancer Center member and non-members.  

MicroCT is a high-resolution 3-dimensional imaging technique. The physical principle of CT is based on scattering and absorption of x-rays by tissues based on their electron density. There are essentially three levels of attenuation yielding color-coded contrast in CT: air (black), soft tissue (grey shades) and bone (white). Disseminated tumors to the bone and lung are easily detected by microCT in the range of 5-10 microns resolution. 

Facility:

The Siemens Inveon microCT system was installed at CU AMC in March 2008. 

The new PerkinElmer Quantum GX2 microCT scanner will be installed at CU AMC in August 2020, from a successful NIH S10 Shared Instrumentation for Animal Research (SIFAR) grant.

Protocols:  

  • High-resolution 3D CT on tumor volumes and metastases detections (in-vivo) 
  • High-resolution specimen CT (ex-vivo) 
  • Starting August 2020: breath-gated in vivo lung CT 
  • Starting August 2020: Quantitative bone density and trabecular bone analysis (in-vivo and ex-vivo)
  • Starting August 2020: Quantitative body composition analysis (fat content)

AISR MicroCT

Schedule a Service:

Small Animal Imaging or Specimen Imaging

  • To schedule a consultation for animal or specimen CT based studies and study design please contact Natalie Serkova, PhD, Natalie.Serkova@CUAnschutz.edu, 303-359-0870. 
  • To schedule a CT imaging appointment please follow these instructions for new ilab users, service requests, and equipment reservations.
  • You must have an approved IACUC protocol. Please contact Jenna Steiner, AAS, CVT, Jenna.Steiner@CUAnschutz.edu for the instructions, SOPs, and pre-approval of CT studies to your IACUC protocol. Please visit the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee for more information.

MicroCT images from our ongoing studies:

animal imaging CT scan 1
From: Dr. Achim Klug
animal imaging CT scan 2
From: Dr. Raj Kumar

Contact Us

Natalie Serkova, PhD
Core Director
Office: (303) 724-1086
Natalie.Serkova@CUAnschutz.edu

Jenna Steiner, AAS, CVT
Core Manager
Office: (303) 724-2942
Jenna.Steiner@CUAnschutz.edu

Soudabeh Kargar, PhD 
Image Analyst
soudabeh.kargar@CUAnschutz.edu

Francis G. Garay
Senior Research Professional
Office: (303) 724-2499
Francis.GarayTriminio@CUAnschutz.edu

 

 

Location: RC1N Vivarium, Suite 1, Rm 0443
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