CAPI is oriented primarily on in vivo preclinical imaging of laboratory animals (mice and rats). Besides imaging methods commonly used in clinical practice (MRI, CT, ultrasound, PET, SPECT) the lab uses methods less common (optical imaging) and methods experimental (photoacoustic imaging, magnetic particle imaging). The lab instrumentation thus enables development of new diagnostic procedures, but also solution of specific scientific projects using novel methods and approaches.
Equipment of the lab together with its background enables work on projects from various branches of medicine. Our team in CAPI in collaboration with other research groups prepares research projects and is able to propose the most suitable experimental design and procedure for the given problem in the area of preclinical research.
Fully equipped chemical and microsurgery laboratories are available for work with small laboratory animals.
More detailed description of the available instruments is here.
Selected model applications:
Neurology: study of neurodegenerative diseases (CT, PET, MRI), traumatic injuries (anatomic and diffusion weighted MRI), study of the therapeutic effect of stem cells (MRI), metabolic and functional disorders (MR spectroscopy, functional MRI)
Cardiovascular system: study of heart disorders (e. g., patent foramen ovale) using real-time imaging (ultrasound, photoacoustic imaging), triggered imaging of heart action (MRI), angiography (CT, MRI), 3D and 4D imaging of the heart (high-frequency ultrasound)
Oncology: monitoring of tumor and metastasis grow (optical imaging, MRI, ultrasound, PET SPECT, CT), monitoring of a therapeutic effect of newly developed cytostatics, targeting of tumor cells by specific contrast agents (optical imaging, MRI, ultrasound/hpohoacoustics, radionuclide methods, volumetry (MRI, ultrasound), tumor oxygenation (photoacoustics), tumor vascularization – MVA (ultrasound – Power/Color Doppler), organ and tumor perfusion (contrast-enhanced MRI, high-frequency ultrasound in a contrast mode using microbubbles)
Transplantation and regenerative medicine: microsurgery, cell microapplication (surgical microscope), monitoring of the transplantation outcome (ultrasound, MRI), cell transplantation and cell tracking (optical imaging, MRI, PET, SPECT)
Contrast and theranostic agent development: cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, biodistribution, verification of specific targeting, possibility of image-guided application of the agent (the smallest bolus ca 3µL) into the tumor, muscle, or a selected organ or tissue (high-frequency ultrasound, syringe pump)