High-Resolution In Vivo MicroCT Imaging to Advance Translational Musculoskeletal and Multidisciplinary Research

About This Grant

We request support for the acquisition of the Bruker SkyScan 1276 CMOS Edition High-Resolution In Vivo MicroCT System to serve a large, diverse, and NIH-funded research community at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (URSMD). The instrument will be housed in the Biomechanics and Multimodal Tissue Imaging (BMTI) Core of the Center for Musculoskeletal Research (CMSR), which supports over 60 NIH-funded investigators across 12 departments. The SkyScan 1276 will replace an obsolete 21-year- old scanner and expand our capabilities in longitudinal and cross-sectional imaging of murine and larger animal models. The SkyScan 1276 provides true spatial resolution down to 6 µm, with voxel sizes as low as 2.8 µm, and enables high-throughput imaging with helical scanning, slip-ring gantry, and physiological monitoring. It supports a large field of view (75 mm × 310 mm), allowing full-body imaging of small animals and complex 3D constructs in a single scan. The SkyScan’s robust software suite will ensure reproducible, high- quality data analysis in alignment with ASBMR standards. These capabilities are vital for a broad range of applications, including skeletal biology, tumor progression, vascular imaging, implant osseointegration, and regenerative medicine. This shared instrument will be accessible to NIH-funded investigators in the CMSR, Wilmot Cancer Institute, Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Allergy/Immunology and Rheumatology unit, and Environmental Health Sciences Center. Collectively, these groups have ongoing projects funded by P30, P50, R01, and U grants that require the SkyScan’s resolution, throughput, and physiological imaging features. Major users collectively project over 1,600 annual usage hours, representing 83% of estimated available time. The system will be operated by a dedicated and experienced technician and overseen by a seasoned core director and a previous S10 recipient. The core will be supervised by an internal Advisory Oversight Committee comprised of intuitional leaders and experts. Training plans include on-site and vendor-led education, annual workshops, and on-demand hands-on sessions. The acquisition of the SkyScan 1276 will transform imaging capabilities at URSMD by enabling precise, minimally invasive, and translational research. This investment will significantly enhance productivity, innovation, and impact across multiple NIH-funded programs and catalyze new discoveries at the interface of basic science and clinical translation.