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AIRC Core Facilities

AIRC director Anke Henning, M.D., displays the 3T Siemens Prisma MR system (3TA) imaging equipment

Human MRI Core Facility

The Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC) Human MRI Core is dedicated to advancing MR technology for the basic understanding and treatment of a wide range of human diseases in collaboration with researchers at UT Southwestern and surrounding areas. To provide high quality research data, our facility uses higher field strengths, advanced imaging techniques, faster gradients, improved coil technology, and more robust sequence protocols to take diagnostic and treatment protocols from the research setting to the clinical setting. The AIRC Human MRI Core is equipped with whole-body 3T and 7T scanners, a clinical polarizer, as well as a mock scanner and support rooms including a procedure room, exam room, and interview/practice rooms. The facility provides technical (i.e., data acquisition/analysis, protocol development) and nursing support to whole-body 3T and 7T scanners.

Major Equipment

From left to right: Dr. Anke Henning with 3T Siemens Prisma MR, 3T Philips Achieva MR, 3T GE Discovery 750w MR, 7T Philips Achieva MR, and GE 5T SPINlab clinical polarizer.
  • 3T Siemens Prisma MR system (3TA)
  • 3T Philips Achieva MR system (3TB)
  • 3T GE Discovery 750w MR system (3TC)
  • 7T Philips Achieva MR system
  • GE 5T SPINlab clinical polarizer

How-To Guide

  1. Discuss your research idea with Binu Thomas, Ph.D. via Binu.Thomas@utsouthwestern.edu

  2. Submit your project to the UT Southwestern Institutional Review Board (IRB). In parallel, submit an AIRC Application for Research with Humans for New 3T or 7T Projects to Corey Mozingo via corey.mozingo@utsouthwestern.edu for protocol review by the Protocol Review Committee (PRC).

  3. Assure that all personnel in the research team have applicable training for their work in the AIRC. This should include registering the PI and all research team members requiring access to the AIRC facility for MR Safety Training/AIRC Orientation. Contact Leticia Lopez via Leticia.Lopez@utsouthwestern.edu for more information.

  4. Once your application is approved, schedule an implementation meeting with Corey Mozingo via email prior to enrolling your first research participant. Topics for the implementation meeting include:

    • Scheduling a 3T or 7T Scan in iLab
    • Confirming badge access
    • Procedures during a scan
    • Billing

Contact:

Corey Mozingo, R.T., Manager, Human MRI Core Facility & Clinical Research
corey.mozingo@UTSouthwestern.edu

Binu Thomas, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Binu.Thomas@UTSouthwestern.edu

Pricing

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Pre-Clinical Imaging Core Facility

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (RP210099) supports the AIRC Pre-Clinical MRI Core and provides pay per use, state-of-the-art pre-clinical MRI services for investigators at UT Southwestern and other campuses in the Dallas area. The Pre-Clinical Imaging Core provides the following services:

  • Conduct MRI experiments on small animal models
  • Analyze image data
  • Establish MRI protocols
  • Develop and implement new imaging and analysis methods
  • Train MR operations
  • Collaborate on research grants

Major Equipment

The renovated Pre-Clinical Imaging Core installed state-of-the-art MRI scanners in 2023. All scanners feature a broadband transmitter/receiver channel supporting 1H and X-nuclei (19F, 13C, 31P, 23Na, 129Xe) MRI/MRS with 1H decoupling, up to third-order shims, and RF interface adapter for third-party or home-built RF coils.

3T Bruker Biospec
Polarize 6.7T SpinAligner 
7T Bruker Biospec
PET insert Si 103 
9.4T Bruker Biospec

How-To Guide

  • Submission of a Project Application: In the application, please provide a detailed description of the types of MRI scans to be performed, including relevant imaging parameters. If replicating a published study, please provide a reference. If it is not a routine protocol, the core may require additional time to develop a scan protocol for your specific study. After reviewing the Project Application, the core will contact you to discuss your MRI protocol, including the feasibility of the project, need for new developments (if any), revisions to the proposed MRI methods, scan time, number of animals, timeline of implementation, etc.
    Project Application Form
  • Animal Protocol: Make sure your IACUC protocol includes MR imaging. The Core has its own protocol in which relevant imaging methods are stated.
    • 2016-101756 core - mice
    • 2016-101762 core - rat
  • Operator training: We offer training for the operation of MRI scanners for those who wish to conduct MRI experiments by themselves. The fees for self-operated scans are substantially less than that for the staff-operated scans.
  • Reservations: After confirming the MRI protocol, reserve time on the appropriate equipment on days/times as directed by the core. All scanner reservations are made on iLabs. If you do not have an iLab account, please follow the guide to registering for an iLab account. Go to Pre-Clinical MRI Research core on iLab following the link below and reserve time on the appropriate scanner using your lab’s credentials. Please see the guide to making reservations on the iLab and click on “MRI” and then on the equipment (e.g., “7T Bruker”).
  • Animal Transfer: Request ARC to transfer the mice to NE2.526. Transfer the animals at least 3 days prior to the date you book the scanner.

Contact:

Janaka Wansapura, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Janaka.Wansapura@UTSouthwestern.edu

Pricing

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NMR Metabolomics Core Facility

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR), an informative analytical technique, proves ideal for metabolomics research. The AIRC NMR Metabolomics Core offers both targeted and non-targeted metabolomics approaches. Non-targeted analyses of metabolites are primarily for researching biochemical networks and undiscovered metabolic pathways, while targeted analyses of established metabolite sets benefit in early disease diagnosis or therapy response monitoring. The NMR Metabolomics Core also provides NMR-based stable isotope-resolved metabolomics (SIRM) using 13C and 2H labelled tracers, an approach that analyzes the metabolic fate of individual atoms from stable isotope-enriched precursors to products.

The core delivers all NMR-related metabolomics services on cells, perfused organs, animal tissues, human biopsies, and bodily fluids. The NMR metabolomics core offers NMR spectroscopy service of the following samples:

  • Cells extract/cell secretions (media)
  • Extracts from perfused isolated organs
  • Animal tissue extracts and biofluids
  • Human biopsy extracts and body fluids
  • In-silico methods for metabolic flux analyses
  • Contrast-agent development

Major Equipment

Imaging equipment at AIRC includes 3 NMR spectrometers and a vertical-bore walkup NMR spectrometer for chemistry applications.
  • Three 600 MHz vertical bore high resolution NMR spectrometers – available probes: 3 mm and 5 mm broad band, 3 mm inverse detect probes, a 5 mm cryoprobe (13C only)
  • 400 MHz vertical bore walk up NMR spectrometer for chemistry applications – available probes: a 5 mm broadband probe auto tunable to 19F, 13C, 31P, 17O and 15N

How-To Guide

Qiong.Wu@UTSouthwestern.edu Qiong Wu for training and user access.

 

NMR Metabolomics Core Contact:

Qiong Wu, Ph.D., Core Manager
Qiong.Wu@UTSouthwestern.edu

Pricing

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Other AIRC Research Infrastructure

AIRC Chemistry Lab

The chemistry lab at the AIRC occupies one large, open room containing 12 chemistry benches, 12 vacuum hoods, and 24 desks for students and technicians. We equipped the chemistry lab with standard equipment for synthetic and analytical chemistry. Major equipment include:

  • Waters Alliance LC system coupled to Waters Xevo QtofMS
  • Waters Delta Prep preparative chromatography
  • Lyophilizer
  • Rotavaps
  • Hotplates
  • Vacuum pumps
  • Centrifuges
  • pH meters, relaxometers
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