The University of Queensland’s Centre for Advanced Imaging (CAI) contains a comprehensive range of imaging technologies and expertise to enable novel small and large animal research.
The Centre’s pre-clinical animal systems provide access to image analysis for cells, tissues, small animals and multi-modal imaging. Our comprehensive range of imaging technologies and expertise enable novel small and large animal research.
The primary capabilities of CAI's animal facilities are structure, function and molecular imaging in live animal, fixed tissue or materials. The imaging equipment is contained in a PC2 facility with animal holding facilities, anaesthetics, and tissue and sample preparation facilities.
Access to the CAI animal imaging facilities is available on a fee basis. The following services are available:
- Planning for in vivo projects
- Animal anaesthesia, surgery and holding rooms
- Development of novel hardware and sequence development
- MR coils for imaging of mouse and rat head and body
- Reconstruction and analysis of static or dynamic image data
- Kinetic modelling of dynamic image data
For more information about using the CAI animal imaging facilities contact the Facility Manager.
MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to generate images of internal organs by acting on protons in water molecules within soft tissue. Magnetised protons in soft tissue produce a signal when radio waves are applied which is then reconstructed by the instrument’s computer into images. It is an ideal tool for studying live subjects because it is non-invasive, safe and is able to generate data which cannot be obtained by other imaging methods.
The Siemens Magnetom Prisma 3T whole-body MRI provides an upgraded system with new MRI applications to deliver higher anatomical detail.
It is used extensively in clinical practice and research, due its many benefits such as