Fred Hutch Preclinical Ultrasound - PROJECT SUMMARY/ ABSTRACT
This proposal is for a VisualSonics Vevo 3100 ultrasound unit to support preclinical small animal
research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Fred Hutch), University of Washington (UW) and
Seattle Children’s Hospital, all members of the NCI-designated Fred Hutch / UW Cancer Consortium. The new
ultrasound system will be housed within the highly successful Fred Hutch Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource
which is part of the Consortium’s overarching Translational BioImaging Core Shared Resource. Purchase of a
Vevo 3100 Preclinical Imaging System will provide needed additional capacity and higher quality image
visualization for oncology studies in rodent models. Ultrasound has become the preclinical standard for high-
throughput evaluation of solid tumors in both orthotopic and heterotopic locations, and for precision
percutaneous injection techniques necessary for preclinical cancer research.
Currently, Fred Hutch Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource has a VisualSonics Vevo 2100 ultrasound
imaging unit housed in a newly renovated ultrasound suite in the Small Animal Facility. This existing instrument
supports at least nine users’ projects across three Fred Hutch Divisions and three multidisciplinary and/or
multi-institutional Research Centers. These projects are funded through 13 NIH-sponsored grants and 6 non-
NIH sponsored grants. The Vevo 2100 is also used by other shared resource groups, such as the Preclinical
Model Core, to support additional NIH-funded research. Acquiring the Vevo 3100 Preclinical Imaging
Ultrasound System would provide multiple benefits for researchers, including increased availability for imaging
time and expanded research capabilities for advanced cancer studies through HD imaging and artifact
reduction, superior to that of the Vevo 2100. The demand for the ultrasound machine is such that existing
users find it difficult to book sufficient time for their research studies. The Principal Investigator, Dr. Sunil
Hingorani, along with the Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource director and associated personnel, will support
the use of this machine through his broad ultrasound expertise. Although there are other Vevo 3100 ultrasound
systems in the Seattle area, these are unavailable to our users for a variety of logistical and research-related
reasons. Through excellent institutional support, the Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource has continued to
grow and will support this new instrument, ensuring high quality maintenance and oversight. The acquisition of
the Vevo 3100 ultrasound will meet our growing demand and further serve as a catalyst for driving preclinical
research in the Pacific Northwest region.