Imaging Core
Director: Felix W. Wehrli, Ph.D.wehrli@mail.med.upenn.edu
Associate Director: Alexander Wright, Ph.D.
wrightal@uphs.upenn.edu
Formerly known as the “Small Animal Imaging Core,” the new “Imaging Core” has been expanded in order to address an unmet need in the musculoskeletal research community at Penn: the capability for researchers to use imaging modalities to examine not only small animals which will remain included in the Core, but larger animals and studies in humans. This extension of scope broadens the capabilities and opportunities for our colleagues.
Imaging plays a pivotal role in the nondestructive and noninvasive assessment of tissue injury and repair in humans and animal models for the myriad musculoskeletal disorders. A particular strength of image-based evaluations of disease progression, or regression in response to intervention, is the possibility for serial studies with the subject being his own control. The University of Pennsylvania has one of the most comprehensive imaging facilities in the world and is staffed by some of the leading scientists conducting research with the various imaging modalities ranging from micro-computed tomography for assessment of tissue architecture at micrometer resolution to functional evaluation at the organ level by whole-body MRI at 1.5T, 3T and 7T field strength. The key objectives of the Penn Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders are to foster and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration among musculoskeletal researchers and to develop and apply a wide range of techniques for acquisition, processing and analysis of images from multiple modalities directed toward problems of musculoskeletal tissue injury and repair in laboratory animals and humans. The Specific Aims are:
Aim 1: To provide guidance and expertise on the use of imaging for musculoskeletal research through educational enrichment programs and one-on-one interactions.
Aim 2: To provide a range of imaging resources for the study of structure, function and physiology of the musculoskeletal system in laboratory animals and humans.
Aim 3: To provide pilot funding for development of new projects and collaborations and to develop preliminary and/or feasibility data with investigators.
Successful completion of these aims will significantly enhance the environment and the capabilities of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, leading to innovative approaches to address musculoskeletal disorders and new collaborations between Center faculty who may have not previously included imaging in their musculoskeletal research programs.
For more information, please visit the Department of Radiology Research website.