Huntsman Cancer Institute Installs First Preclinical nanoScan 3T PET/MRI in U.S.

Scanner will allow HCI to perform higher throughput screening of rodent tumor models, improve testing of novel cancer therapies

The Center for Quantitative Cancer Imaging at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City has become the first site in the U.S. to install the nanoScan PET/MRI 3T preclinical in vivo imaging system. This is the 10th installation of the nanoScan positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) 3T worldwide.

In 2015, HCI became the Center of Excellence for Preclinical Imaging by Mediso Ltd. and its affiliate company Mediso USA with the installation of four modalities, the nanoScan PET/MRI 1T and nanoScan single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) to advance its cancer imaging techniques. Three years later, HCI is now upgrading their current system with the 3 Tesla superconducting cryogen-free magnet to support the opening of a dedicated vivarium and preclinical imaging laboratory in the new Primary Children's and Families' Cancer Research Center. Through a clinical 3T magnetic field, the system allows the translational in vivo imaging of small animals and is particularly suitable for examinations requiring greater sensitivity, including brain imaging.

"The installation of the 3 Tesla PET/MRI will allow us to perform higher throughput screening of a wide range of rodent tumor models as well as improve our testing of novel cancer therapies with better image quality," said Jeffrey Yap, Ph.D., co-director, Center for Quantitative Cancer Imaging, Huntsman Cancer Institute.