Equipment

Photon SARRP

Recently, a new SARRP platform was made available to the facility by funds from the Mark Foundation and Andy J. Minn, MD, PhD. The third generation Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP) is equipped with high resolution CT panel, motorized variable collimator (MVC), 360 degree rotating gantry, set of standard fixed collimators, heated rodent positioning stages and advanced treatment planning software (TPS). The new SARRP offers the ability to acquire cone-beam computed tomographic imaging (CBCT) of rodents with variable voxel resolution down to 0.007 mm and image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) with isocenteric targeting accuracy of 0.25 mm." on the CARC equipment page under "Photon SARRP

Proton SARRP on rails

The first generation SARRP (obtained through a NIH S-10 Instrumentation grant in 2019) has been placed in front of the proton beam path and sits on rails, allowing for efficient Proton and Photon radiotherapy. An exciting recent development in the past year is the ability to deliver ultra-high dose Proton Radiotherapy (FLASH) to rodent models and canine patients. FLASH radiotherapy is a new concept in radiation biology and holds the promise to reduce toxicity to normal tissues while being equally effective as conventional radiotherapy to tumors. By bringing together modern clinical 3-D volumetric radiotherapy planning and delivery with image guidance, the SARRP and similar devices are revolutionizing x-ray radiation effects research in the pre-clinical setting.

Cabinet X-ray irradiator (X-RAD 320ix)

The X-RAD 320ix is one of the three cell irradiators that belong to the Cell and Animal Radiation Core (CARC). The X-RAD 320ix cabinet X-ray irradiator is equipped with 320kVp tube, large irradiation field area (20cmx20cm at 50 cm SSD), variable collimator, and two beam hardening filters for high and low dose rate irradiations and user friendly GUI geared towards self-service. The X-RAD 320ix irradiator is a good alternative to Cs-137 gamma-ray irradiator as photon energies of both irradiators are in the Compton scattering dominant region and basically have the same relative biological effectiveness (RBE).  The X-Rad is also ideal for irradiating cells, other model systems (e.g., yeast, C elegans, Drosophila, etc)  and solutions (e.g., for sterilization).

Gamma-ray irradiators

The CARC has two Cesium 662keV gamma-ray irradiators; one equipped with rotating table designed for uniform rodent, cell and tissue sample irradiations at high dose rates (up to 8 Gy/min). The second Cesium irradiator offers large irradiation platform (with field size of 25cm x 25 cm) and lower dose rate (~ 1Gy/min).