MULTIUSER IMAGE-GUIDED SMALL ANIMAL X-RAY PLATFORM

We are requesting funds to purchase a SARRP image-guided x-ray platform in order to continually support atotal of 26 research projects. Among the currently funded projects that requires the use of the irradiator, nine ofthem are NIH RO1, one PO1 and one U-42 projects. Additionally, one funded FDA approved phase1/2 study andfour NIH RO1 projects that are likely to get funded (currently under council review) proposed to use theirradiator. Apart from that, four other federally funded projects (US Department of Defense, VeteranAdministration) and six state- or institutional-funded project depend on the irradiator use. The track record andproductivity out of the current irradiator use is significant with seminal publications including the journalsNature, Mol. Cell Biol., J Biol. Chem., PNAS, and Cancer Research. As an added benefit, the irradiation facilityis integrated with other institutional core facilities including institutional transgenic core platform. Currently theinvestigators perform their radiation exposures for biological samples in a Gamma Cell-40 irradiator which hasbeen in use since 1980. As of March 2010, the manufacturer proclaimed this 35-year old 137Cs source irradiatoran end-of-useful lifecycle and informed that the company can no longer guarantee replacement parts on this oldunit. It periodically shows a faulty door-lock system and air pressure resulting in inappropriate positioning ofthe exposures heads or over exposure due to failure in unlocking the door. When safety system kicks-in, due tounsecured door locks, sometimes, system fails to switch on. In addition, since this decades-old equipment hasno provision for partial body irradiation or targeted delivery, it is unable to meet the requirements of severalcurrent and newly approaching research studies. Unlike the old irradiator SARRP 200 can be used for animalsother than mice. Built-in immobilization system allows the users to expose the animals under anestheticcondition which is not possible with the current irradiator. The SARRP image guided irradiator platform has noradioactive source and is designed specifically as Cs replacement for biological research. Additionally, SARRPhas several advantageous over its principal commercial competitors. The SARRP 200 irradiation system ischosen for its performance more suited for the current and future users, wide use in several laboratories, safety,durability, self-shielding, and its useful life time. We have a carefully constituted an internal advisory committeefor a productive operation of the irradiator for an extended period of time. With a strong institutional supportand technical expertise by running the irradiator for the past several years we are confident that we can diligentlyoperate the irradiator and support the current projects and meet the challenges/ requirements of incomingstudies in future. Both physicians from the Medical School and the NCI designated Cancer Therapy ResearchCenter (CTRC), and translational/basic scientists with multiple NIH projects from UTHSCSA Graduate Schoolof Biomedical Sciences can take full advantage of this equipment.