Research Support Units
Michigan Clinical Research Unit (MCRU)
Biomedical Imaging Core (BIC)
The Biomedical Imaging Core (BIC) is intended to support specific technological development and research image data analysis needs of the investigators.
BIC assists with imaging protocol design and development that use established procedures including: data analysis, radiotracer syntheses and "functional"/"activation" paradigms, as well as tailored image data analyses.
Other investigator needs will be considered upon request, particularly if the work will support a broad range of potential clinical investigators and protocols.
Sophisticated image analysis tools (cross-sectional imaging modalities) including X-ray CT, MRI, SPECT and PET, are available to provide investigators with segmentation, volumetric assessments, cross-modality registration and plastic image deformations ("warping") to common or idealized organ shape and scale. Image acquisitions may be tailored specifically to target organs and anticipated pathologies. Specialized post-processing algorithms support objective analyses of organ size and shape, volume, and interval size/shape change in serial images over time (e.g. tumor response or progression during therapy).
In addition to structural imaging applications the BIC supports "functional" imaging protocols involving MR (fMRI), SPECT, and PET. In general, these designs will collect multiple image sets under different physiological conditions. Post-processing then identifies image correlates of the change in state. Examples include fMRI of the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal associated with cerebral function, and augmentation of cerebral or cardiac perfusion by vasodilators or physical/mental activity in SPECT or PET tracer studies.
