Expansion of Physiology Core: The Vevo F2 High Resolution Preclinical Ultrasound System - Project Abstract: This SIG Grant details the critical need for a VisualSonics Vevo F2 preclinical ultrasound System to expand the capacity of the Physiology Core at the University of Louisville. The Core is the only core facility on Campus to support the ultrasound imaging needs of the fast-growing User base, which includes more than thirty investigators from five NIH-funded centers, in the field of cardiovascular health, cancer, hepatic and metabolic disease, environmental toxicology, exercise science, immunology and oral health. The justification for a second ultrasound instrument is clear: 1) The ever-increasing and diverse needs from Major and Minor Users far exceed the capacity of our initial, single instrument. Ultrasound imaging wait time for a new study is extended beyond acceptable measures. 2) The capacity limits the Core’s ability to develop new integrated physiology approaches, a unique feature of the Core, to meet the needs of investigators for their competitive grant applications and cutting-edge research projects. 3) No systems from other vendors have the combination of applications, spatiotemporal resolution and the open architecture that the Vevo F2 provides. The Users’ more than $18million (majorly NIH-funded) portfolios of grants have benefited from the Core’s existing Vevo 3100 system. As the Vevo 3100 entered end-of-sale stage, the Vevo F2 is now the only option to expand the Core’s capacity with the established high level imaging standard. The requested instrument will be housed in an existing core with two-plus decades of experience on preclinical ultrasound. The existing Core leadership, space, ongoing financial support, and technical expertise guarantees effective use and maintenance of the requested instrument from day-one of its installations. The requested instrument will not only effectively expand the most needed capacity to meet the demand of ultrasound imaging; but also allow the Core to develop and provide advanced integrated physiology approaches, such as cardiac pacing stress echocardiography, echocardiography-pressure volume loop, myocardial contrast echocardiography + pressure volume loop and whole-view coronary artery function measurement package to the Core’s User base; in addition, provide the opportunity of bioengineering research for future-oriented imaging technology development. The over-arching theme among the Major Users are the continued need for precise, sensitive determination of changes in cardiac structure and function, for vascular function, for quantifiable vasculature measurements, for live tissue blood flow/perfusion, and for tissue stiffness/fibrosis measurements. Over the next several years, procurement of this Vevo F2 system will allow the Physiology Core to scale to meet the ever-growing investigators’ demand in NIH funded cross-functional biomedical research projects that are focused primarily on the most significant public health concerns.
