Technical research platform & heavy equipment: small animal radiation research platform & small animal MRI 4.7T

The aim of this project is to install, explore and optimize the potential of a combination of a small animal radiation research platform and a small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. This new equipment will be integrated with the existing imaging and surgical facilities for laboratory animals used for translational cancer research at Ghent University. The small animal radiation research platform allows image guided conformal irradiation of (xenograft) tumours in laboratory animals. The MRI visualises the tumours with excellent soft tissue contrast and forms the basis of radiation treatment planning. MRI will also be used to provide multiparametric information of the tumours and to modify radiation treatment.