Small Animal Imaging

Our Goal

To provide imaging infrastructure, technical expertise, and logistic coordination to facilitate high-quality imaging of cancer in small animals.

Location

Moss Building - South Campus
J2.200
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75390

View Fees

The Small Animal Imaging Shared Resource (SAISR) of the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC) is set to facilitate advances in the understanding of cancer biology and the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics. SAISR enables noninvasive assessment of tumor development, progression, and response to therapy using a comprehensive suite of imaging technologies including optical, ultrasound, photo-acoustic imaging, MRI, SPECT, hybrid SPECT/CT, PET/CT, and more. In addition to anatomical visualization, SAISR provides spatial and functional context for diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and theranostic interventions. Specifically, the Shared Resource facilitate and integrate pathophysiology, metabolism, and target identification with anatomical imaging.

With exceptional expertise and experience in small animal imaging, SAISR personnel seek to develop and implement new imaging capabilities to enhance research and to advise on choice of optimal imaging approaches on a service basis or independently by SCCC investigators, following appropriate training. Though not part of the SAISR, the Cyclotron and Radiochemistry Program (CRP) provides more than 50 investigational radiotracers enabling PET and SPECT. The radiochemists in CRP are actively engaged in developing new theranostic radiopharmaceuticals, further expanding the imaging portfolio for cancer research.   

Equipment Locations

• Radiology

  Optical and Ultrasound Imaging (North Campus)
  T. Boone Pickens Medical Education Building: NG2.302
  6001 Forest Park Road
  Dallas, TX 75235

  PET/CT and SPECT/CT (North Campus)
  Clements Imaging Building: NE3.116
  2201 Inwood Road
  Dallas, TX 75390

  Optical, Photoacoustic, and Ultrasound Imaging (South Campus)
  Moss Building: J2.200
  5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
  Dallas, TX 75390

• AIRC (Preclinical MRI Core/NMR)

  3 T, 9.4 T MRI & Hyperpolarizer, and 7 T MRI/PET (North Campus)

  Clements Imaging Building: NE2.726
  2201 Inwood Road
  Dallas, TX 75390

• Radiation Oncology (Preclinical Imaging/Image-Guided Radiation Core Facility)

  β-Cube PET, X-Cube CT, SARRP XStrahl irradiator, X-Rad225 CX, and 3 T MRI (North Campus)

  Simmons Biomedical Research Building (NB)
  3rd floor
  6000 Harry Hines Blvd
  Dallas, TX 75235

   

Services

SAISR maintain a diverse array of small animal imaging instruments that allow Simmons Cancer Center members to perform:

• Optical imaging
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Positron emission tomography/X-ray computed tomography (PET/CT)
• Single photon emission computed tomography/X-ray computed tomography (SPECT/CT)
• Ultrasound
• Multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT)
• Stereotactic irradiation (IGRT)
• MRI with a PET insert for simultaneous (PET/MRI)

Many instruments include components for physiological monitoring and regulation. UT Southwestern continues to invest heavily in infrastructure for both cancer and imaging. The Cancer Center provides 20% copayments to its members for use of PET, SPECT, and CT scanners, but excluding the expenses of radiotracers.

Technology and Equipment

To best serve Simmons Cancer Center investigators, instruments are available both inside the specific pathogen free (SPF) barrier vivarium, where many cancer investigators maintain their colonies, and in conventional research areas:

• AMI-HTX optical imaging system including X-Ray imaging
• IVIS Spectrum optical imaging system
• PET/MRI 7T, 3T MRI and 9.4T MRI
• SAARP XStrahl Irradiator
• iThera MSOT 256-TF photoacoustic imaging system
• Siemens Inveon PET/CT and Mediso nanoScan PET/CT systems
• BioScan NanoSPECT/CT system 

Fees

• Radiology

  Service or Instrument	FY 26 Price
  Full Service Spectral Instruments Imaging AMI-HTX (SCCC Members)	$17.50
  Full Service Spectrum (SCCC Members)	$17.50
  Full Service Vevo 770 (SCCC Members)	$15.50
  Full Service MSOT (SCCC Members)	$18
  Self Service Spectral Instruments Imaging AMI-HTX (SCCC Members)	$10
  Self Service Spectrum Imaging (SCCC Members)	$10
  Self Service Vevo Imaging (SCCC Members)	$7.50
  Self Service MSOT Imaging (SCCC Members)	$10
  Data Analysis (All Users)	$45
  Luciferin (Dose) (All Users)	$3.60
  Full Service Spectral Instruments Imaging AMI-HTX (Non-SCCC Members)	$35
  Full Service Spectrum (Non-SCCC Members)	$35
  Full Service Vevo 770 (Non-SCCC Members)	$31
  Full Service MSOT (Non-SCCC Members)	$36
  Self Service Spectral Instruments Imaging AMI-HTX (Non-SCCC Members)	$20
  Self Service Spectrum Imaging (Non-SCCC Members)	$20
  Self Service Vevo Imaging (Non-SCCC Members)	$15
  Self Service MSOT Imaging (Non-SCCC Members)	$20

• AIRC (Preclinical MRI Core/NMR)

  Preclinical MRI

  Service or Instrument	Hourly/Flat	SCCC Member	Non-SCCC Member	Commercial
  Staff-operated scans	Hourly	$209.59	$419.18	$628.77
  Self-operated scans (weekday peak hours: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.)	Hourly	$132.38	$264.76	$397.14
  Self-operated scans (weekday off peak hours & weekend)	Hourly	$110.31	$220.62	$330.93
  Self-operated scans (overnight: 10 p.m. - 8 a.m.)	Flat	$330.94	$661.88	$992.82
  Operating training	Hourly	$209.59	$419.18	$628.77
  Method protocol development	Hourly	$85	$170	$255
  Data analysis service	Hourly	$132.38	$264.76	$397.14
  Cannulations and terminal surgical procedures	Flat	$110.31	$220.62	$330.93
  Hypolarizer (SpinAligner) / day	Flat	$220.63	$441.26	$661.89
  Cryoprobe (9.4T Bruker) / day	Flat	$55.16	$110.32	$165.48
  PET insert / day	Flat	$108.15	$216.30	$324.45

  NMR

  Service or Instrument	SCCC Member	Non-SCCC Member	External	Commercial
  400 MHz (Walk up)	$22.28	$27.85	$55.70	$83.55
  600 MHz (PS)	$22.28	$27.85	$55.70	$83.55
  600 MHz (AS)	$22.28	$27.85	$55.70	$83.55
  600 MHz (Cryoprobe)	$22.28	$27.85	$55.70	$83.55
  Data Acquisition Technician Calendar	$89.11	$111.39	$222.78	$334.17
  Data analysis	$89.11	$111.39	$222.78	$334.17
  Sample preparation	$69.95	$87.44	$174.88	$262.32

• Radiation Oncology (Preclinical Imaging/Image-Guided Radiation Core Facility)

  MRI (NB3.206)

  Service	SCCC Member/hourly	External/hourly	Commercial/hourly
  Training (2 hrs, max 4 users, all customers)	$203.59	N/A	N/A
  User operated (All Customers)	$128.58	N/A	N/A
  Staff operated (AllCustomers)	$203.59	$407.17	$610.76
  Protocol/methodology development	Free	$407.17	$610.76
  Data Analysis	Free	$407.17	$610.76
  *SCCC members will receive 25% subsidy
  Training (2 hrs, max 4 users, SCCC members)	$132.38	N/A	N/A
  User operated (SCCC members)	$110.31	N/A	N/A
  Staff operated (SCCC members)	$220.63	N/A	N/A

  AMI-HTX (NB3.206)

  Service	SCCC Member/hourly	External/hourly	Commercial/hourly
  Training (All Customers)	$116	N/A	N/A
  User operated	$116	N/A	N/A
  Staff operated	$203	$430.72	$646.08
  *SCCC members will receive 50% subsidy
  Training (2 hrs, max 4 users, SCCC members)	$58	N/A	N/A
  User operated (SCCC members)	$58	N/A	N/A
  Staff operated (SCCC members)	$101.50	N/A	N/A

  Molecubes CTX-Cube (NB3.206)

  Service	SCCC Member/hourly	External/hourly	Commercial/hourly
  Training	$77.25	N/A	N/A
  User operated	$206	N/A	N/A
  Staff operated	$257.50	$530.45	$795.67
  *SCCC members will receive 25% subsidy
  Training (2 hrs, max 4 users, SCC members)	$57.94	N/A	N/A
  User operated (SCCC members)	$154.50	N/A	N/A
  Staff Operated (SCCC members)	$193.13	N/A	N/A

  Molecubes PET B-Cube (NB3.206)

  Service	SCCC Member/hourly	External/hourly	Commercial/hourly
  Training	$77.25	N/A	N/A
  User operated	$206	N/A	N/A
  Staff operated	$257.50	$530.45	$795.67
  *SCCC members will receive 25% subsidy
  Training (2 hrs, max 4 users, SCC members)	$57.94	N/A	N/A
  User operated (SCCC members)	$154.50	N/A	N/A
  Staff Operated (SCCC members)	$193.13	N/A	N/A

Leadership and Contact

Xiankai Sun, Ph.D.

Director, SAISR

xiankai.sun@utsouthwestern.edu