Facility Status and Highlights of the AMRIS MRI/S Program

as of summer 2010, mid-point in current award period

• NHMFL development cores in HTS NMR probes, novel contrast agents for use at high fields, and microimaging are now leveraged by NIH funding

– R01 to fund 1.5-mm HTS 13C-optimized probe construction began in fall 2009– R01 application for development of MR Microscopy at the cellular level is at 2nd percentile – U54 to study failed regeneration in the muscular dystrophies using novel contrast approaches

is one of three anticipated funded centers in the country.

•Three of seven instruments in the facility upgraded/will receive upgrade in 2010 and early 2011. This is a $1.4M investment in the facility with $0.3M from NHMFL funding.

• New partnership with UF Chemistry and CTSI to develop center for metabolomics integrating 1.5-mm HTS 13C-optimized probe, developed with Agilent, on a new 600 MHz instrument. This instrument, a $800k investment with $100k from the NHMFL, will be part of the NHMFL external user program.

• Hired a PhD level Staff Scientist for Animal Imaging to support UF and NHMFL external user programs.

•Partnered with high B/T facility on successful ARI-R2 proposal to revitalize the UF helium liquefaction and recovery system.

Science Highlights of the AMRIS MRI/S Program

as of summer 2010, mid-point in current award period

• First MRI microscopy of mammalian neurons and subcellular structures – Two cover articles in NeuroImage– Imaging with direct histological characterization of nucleoli in frog ova– Development of stronger gradients and perfusion probe with Bruker

• High resolution brain white matter fiber structure– Fiber tract connections between major anatomical regions– Transport models for convection-enhanced CNS delivery

• Natural product identification– ~1 L of a “defensive ooze” from a leaf insect– We found 3 related pyrazines (smells like chocolate!)– Required the 1-mm HTS probe (right before it broke…)

•Gene reporter for detection of cellular LacZ expression by MRI

-LacZPost SgalPre Sgal

Vision for the AMRIS MRI/S Program

as of summer 2010, mid-point in current award period

• Development of NMR and MRI/S program at 30T and beyondMicroimaging program (1-2 mm3 FOV at micron resolution)

Measuring and matching of magnetic susceptibilityDevelopment of contrast agents

NMR of biomolecular systems using microvolumesAccelerated acquisition techniquesManaging and measuring anisotropic interactions

•Transformational researchSignal detection in an extreme environmentFlow and diffusion over multiple length and timescales in deep structuresBridging atomic and anatomical scales in biologySystems biology and chemical communication

•Renovation/expansion of AMRIS facility space

•Development of program in multi-transmit/receive MRI