Molecular Imaging North Competence Center (MOIN-CC)

The competence center MOIN focuses on the development of new innovative diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for the detection and treatment of oncological, inflammatory and neurological disorders. MOIN CC also develops and optimizes medical devices. MOIN owns all major imaging modalities like a 7 T Small Animal-MRT, a Mikro-CT, the optical Tomography device FMT 2500, the optical chamber NightOwl II, a fiberoptic Confocalmicroscope CellVizio, a Multiphoton Microscope TrimScope I, as well as a high resolution Small Animall Sonography Vevo 2100. In recent years new technologies for in-vivo imaging became available in preclinical research. These new technologies dramatically opened up new possibilities to investigate new therapies as well as developing biomarkers and diagnostic tools in small animals. The availability of optical methods, magnetic resonance imaging, x-ray tomography and high resolution ultrasound allow for a much more sensitive and quantitative evaluation of changes in the whole animal or the organ of interest. The possibility to run longitudinal studies in the same animal not only reduces the number of animals necessary but also leads to higher information content. Combining different imaging modalities gives additional information, beside the target of interest that has never been accessible before.

In recent years new technologies for in-vivo imaging became available in preclinical research. These new technologies dramatically opened up new possibilities to investigate new therapies as well as developing biomarkers and diagnostic tools in small animals. The availability of optical methods, magnetic resonance imaging, x-ray tomography and high resolution ultrasound allow for a much more sensitive and quantitative evaluation of changes in the whole animal or the organ of interest. The possibility to run longitudinal studies in the same animal not only reduces the number of animals necessary but also leads to higher information content. Combining different imaging modalities gives additional information, beside the target of interest that has never been accessible before. The competence center MOIN CC focuses on the development of new innovative diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for the detection and treatment of oncological, inflammatory and neurological disorders. MOIN CC also develops and optimizes medical devices. MOIN CC delivers a comprehensive infrastructure of equipment and personnel for innovative noninvasive imaging of small animals. The scientific concept is driven by multimodal, multiparametric, molecular and micromorphological imaging as well as translational research.

Scientific equipment: