Core Facilities | Cincinnati College of Medicine

College of Medicine Research Core Facilities

The UC College of Medicine houses a number of research core facilities designated as core service centers. These facilities exist within multiple departments but are collectively supported by the College of Medicine Office of Research through the Associate Dean for Research Core Facilities: Ken Greis, PhD. (ken.greis@uc.edu; Tel: 513-558-7012).

The service center designation signifies the rates charged by each of these facilities have been reviewed and approved by the UC Government Cost Compliance Office; thus, the service fees can be cross-charged to federal grants and contracts. Details related to the services offered and the internal rates for each of the cores are provided below. Since these rates are substantially subsidized by the University, external investigators should contact individual core directors to get a rate quote.

Resources to offset some of the cost of the core services may be available through a variety of centers and institutes across UC depending on an investigator’s affiliation. Information related to some of those opportunities and the website links are provided below:

We have recently transitioned our core facilities booking and management to the PPMS system from Stratocore. To book and access services from the core facilities, please log in or create an account in Stratocore via:

My PPMS Dashboard

Stratocore Account Creation Guides:

New UC PI Account Creation

New UC User Account Creation

New External User Account Creation

Preclinical Imaging Core (PIC)

The Core was established to provide non-invasive multimodal imaging capabilities optimized for rodent imaging to the UC research community. The facility specializes in micro-CT and micro-PET/SPECT for longitudinal research projects in small animal models, but also provides bioluminescence, fluorescence and planar x-ray imaging capabilites. A XenX cabinet irradiator is available for cell, focal, and whole-rodent irradiation. The Core actively supports research in cancer and other progressive diseases, and a variety of surgical and bioengineering projects.

To access services from the PIC, please login or create an account in Stratocore at https://ppms.us/uc/start/.

Location and Hours:
Vontz Center Rm 0330 (basement- restricted access - call lab 558-7930)
M-F 8:30am-5pm; or as arranged

Announcement Jan 2023
The Bruker 9.4T small animal MRI in MSB 4106 is now being managed through the PIC. It is a vertical bore spectrometer with a gradient insert for imaging, The system is currently optimized for mouse brain imaging. Please contact the lab for further information.

Announcement Jan 2019
A XenX closed cabinet x-ray irradiator with a rotational gantry, designed for irradiation of cells and rodents is now available. Please contact the lab or Michael Lamba (584-9028, michael.lamba@uc.edu) for further information.

Announcement Sept 2018
Bioluminescence and Fluorescence imaging services are available to PIs within the UC-COM LAMS mouse facilities – mice housed in the LAMS Vontz and MSB facilities remain behind the barrier for their imaging sessions and are returned to their original rooms. Please contact the lab for further information.

Acknowledgement

Please notify the facility of assisted publications and grants. Acknowledgement of our services helps to ensure the continuation of the imaging core's resources.

Grant Information

Specific instrumentation and facilities information for your grant submission will be supplied by the core personnel. Please contact the lab via email (vcil@uc.edu) at least two weeks before the planned submission date to ensure the information is aligned appropriately with your grant needs.

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Services/Internal Fees

Service	Cost
PET/CT/SPECT imaging	$225 per hour
Optical imaging (BLI, FLR) and x-ray	$125 per hour (Vontz); $135 per hour (MSB)
Irradiations	$75 per hour + therapy physics support
Investigator self processing	$25 per hour
MR Imaging	$100/hr (instrument & personnel)
Image and Data post-processing	$75 per hour
Radiopharmaceuticals and specialized contrast agents	PASS-THROUGH CHARGE

Sample Data

micro-CT ex-vivo embryo

rat embryo soaked in Lugol's

Rat PET CT

F-18 FDG PET-CT for monitoring glioma treatment response. 10 mins PET acquisition at 30 mins post injection, following CT scan

micro-CT in-vivo gated lung scan

Respiratory-gated CT for Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP) Mouse under isoflurane.

X ray

Bone Densitometry

Bioluminescence (BLI) imaging

Tumor imaging (breast cancer model) 20min acquisition following IP luciferin injection

Fluorescence (FLR) imaging

Tumor imaging using antibody with Alexa-647 fluorescent label. 30sec acquisition at 24hr after FLR injection.

Irradiation of cell plates

Focal Irradiation - example set-up

Cu-64 PET-CT

novel Cu-64 label for targeted PET imaging of bacteria in mice

Cu-64 PET-CT data

evaluation of novel radiopharmaceutical delivery in mice

T2W MRI imaging

T2W MRI in microglia ablation mouse models

Fluorescence (FLR) tumor imaging

in-vivo and ex-vivo imaging after injection of Cy5.5 FLR labeled nanoparticle.

micro-CT in gerbils

in-vivo and ex-vivo imaging of cholesteatoma in gerbils

Equipment

Inveon PET/SPECT/CT

Tri-modal micro-imaging system with LSO-based positron emission tomography (micro-PET), dual-head single photon emission computed tomography (micro-SPECT), and cone-beam computerized tomography (micro-CT) sub-systems.
a) Bore size = 12 cm; max FOV = 10cm.

Integrated Biovet monitoring system: respiratory, EKG, temperature control; heating pad on pallet
Isoflurane anesthesia

Siemens

Bruker multi-spectral FX PRO

Bioluminescence, fluorescence, x-ray, and optical imaging in small animals. Located in the Vontz LAMS facility.

a) 20 - 200 mm FOV (images up to 5 mice simultaneously)
b) warm-air chamber with isoflurane anesthesia manifolds
c) excitation filters: 390nm to 770nm in 20nm steps
d) emission filters: 535nm, 600 nm, 700nm, 750nm, 790nm, 830nm

Bruker

Xen-X Irradiator

Closed cabinet x-ray irradiator with a rotational gantry, designed for irradiation of cells and rodents. Provides both whole-body irradiation for myelosuppression, and focal irradiation similar to current clinical radiotherapy approaches. A portal imaging camera provides verification of the beam localization.

(https://xstrahl.com/life-science-systems/xenx/)
50 – 220 kV x-rays
Mounted on isocentric arm with 35 cm source-to-isocenter distance
3 mm round to 10 cm x 10 cm fields at standard distance, larger at extended distances
Point dose calculator
0.69 mm Cu HVL treatment x-rays

X-Strahl

Perkin-Elmer IVIS Spectrum

Bioluminescence, fluorescence, and optical imaging in mice.
Located in the MSB LAMS facility.

Perkin-Elmer

Bruker 9.4T MRI

High-field spectrometer with gradient insert and Paravision 5.1 software interface for MR imaging of mice, particularly mouse brains.
a) vertical bore
b) 89mm bore size
c) SAII system for monitoring respiratory, EKG, and temperature.

Bruker

FAQs

What is the lab phone number?

513 558 7930

How do I arrange to transfer my animals for imaging?

All live animal imaging is conducted under the Core's IACUC protocol.
A "Temporary Protocol Transfer" must be submitted through UC LAMS.
For PET/CT/BLI the transfer is to protocol Lemen #21-11-04-01.
For MRI, the transfer is to protocol Lemen,#21-04-21-01.
Please contact the lab for details and assistance.

How do I schedule imaging time?

Please call the lab - 558-7930 - for available times and to plan for longitudinal imaging timepoints.

Which animals may be imaged in the lab?

All core equipment is optimized for imaging rodents - mice and rats.
The core is a Specific Pathogen Free facility. Animals within UC facilities may be imaged or irradiated here. For transfers from outside facilites, please contact the lab to confirm if they will be accepted.

Publications

Please notify the facility of assisted publications and grants. Acknowledgement of our services helps to ensure the continuation of the imaging core services.

Ravi N. Samy; Brian R. Earl; Noga Lipschitz; Ivy Schweinzger; Mark Currier; Timothy Cripe, "Engineered Oncolytic Virus for the Treatment of Cholesteatoma: A Pilot in vivo Study" Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology, 4: October 2019: 532-542

Sumit Murab, Stacey M.S. Gruber, Chia-Ying James Lin, Patrick Whitlock, "Elucidation of bio-inspired hydroxyapatie crystallization on oxygen-plasma modified 3D printed poly-caprolactone scaffolds", Materials Science & Engineering C 109 (2020) 110529

Adeola Adeyemo, Christopher Johnson, Andrew Stiene, Kathleen LaSance, Zhihua Qi, Lisa Lemen & Jo El J. Schultz (2020) Limb functional recovery is impaired in fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) deficient mice despite chronic ischaemia-induced vascular growth, Growth Factors, 38:2, 75-93, DOI: 10.1080/08977194.2020.1767612

Nabil A. Siddiqui, Hailey A. Houson, Nitin S. Kamble, Jose R. Blanco, Robert E. O’Donnell, Daniel J. Hassett, Suzanne E. Lapi, and Nalinikanth Kotagiri, "Leveraging copper import by yersiniabactin siderophore system for targeted PET imaging of bacteria", JCI Insight. 2021;6(10):e144880. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.144880.

Nimita Dave, Lionel M.L. Chow, Gary A. Gudelsky, Kathleen LaSance, Xiaoyang Qi, and Pankaj B. Desai, “Preclinical Pharmacological Evaluation of Letrozole as a Novel Treatment for Gliomas”, Mol Cancer Ther. 2015 April; 14(4): 857–864. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-14-0743. PMID: 25695958

Amanda K. Powers, Daniel J. Berning, Joshua B. Gross,, Parallel evolution of regressive and constructive craniofacial traits across distinct populations of Astyanax mexicanus cavefish . J Exp Zool B Mol Dev Evol. 2020 November ; 334(7-8): 450–462.

JOSHUA B. GROSS* and AMANDA K. POWERS. “A Natural Animal Model System of Craniofacial Anomalies: The Blind Mexican Cavefish” Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2020 Jan; 303(1): 24–29.

Kamble Nitin, Kotagiri Nalini, Madaan Tushar, Sertorio Mathieu, Siddiqui Nabil, Thomas Shindu, Ventrola Alec. “An Engineered Probiotic Platform for Cancer Epitope-Independent Targeted Radionuclide Therapy of Solid Tumors. “ Advanced healthcare materials, 2023/03

Emily Igel, April Haller, Patrick R. Wolfkiel, Melissa Orr-Asman, Anja Jaeschke, and David Y. Hui. “Distinct pro-inflammatory properties of myeloid cell–derived apolipoprotein E2 and E4 in atherosclerosis promotion” . J. Biol. Chem. (2021) 297(3) 101106

Christina A. Wicker, Brian G. Hunt, Sunil Krishnan , Kathryn Aziz, Shobha Parajuli, Sarah Palackdharry, William R. Elaban, Trisha M. Wise-Draper, Gordon B. Mills, Susan E. Waltz, Vinita Takiar. “Glutaminase inhibition with telaglenastat (CB-839) improves treatment response in combination with ionizing radiation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma models.” Cancer Lett. 2021 April 01; 502: 180–188

Alicia Bedolla, Aleksandr Taranov, Fucheng Luo, Jiapeng Wang, Flavia Turcato, Elizabeth M. Fugate, Nigel H. Greig, Diana M. Lindquist, Steven A. Crone, June Goto and Yu Luo. “Diphtheria toxin induced but not CSF1R inhibitor mediated microglia ablation model leads to the loss of CSF/ventricular spaces in vivo that is independent of cytokine upregulation. Journal of Neuroinflammation (2022) 19:3

Zilan Zhou, Carly Kennell, Mina Jafari, Joo-Youp Lee, Sasha J. Ruiz-Torres, Susan E. Waltz, and Jing-Huei Lee. “Sequential Delivery of Erlotinib and Doxorubicin for Enhanced Triple Negative Breast Cancer Treatment Using Polymeric Nanoparticle”. Int J Pharm. 2017 September 15; 530(1-2): 300–307

Zilan Zhou, Mina Jafari, Vishnu Sriram, Jinsoo Kim, Joo-Youp Lee , Sasha J. Ruiz-Torres, and Susan E. Waltz. “Delayed Sequential Co-Delivery of Gefitinib and Doxorubicin for Targeted Combination Chemotherapy”. Mol Pharm. 2017 December 04; 14(12): 4551–4559