Experimental and Preclinical Imaging Centre (ePIC)
The Experimental and Preclinical Imaging Centre (ePIC) at the University of Leeds is a unique experimental imaging facility in the North-East of England, dedicated to developing and applying multi-modal imaging techniques for a comprehensive, non-invasive phenotype characterisation in small animals and model systems. The mission of the centre is to bring about a step change in biomedical / bioimaging research in Leeds and with its close link to the Advanced Imaging Centre in the Leeds General Infirmary offers unique translational research opportunities.
ePIC, which is located on the ground floor of the Light Building, provides access to multi-modal imaging platforms, including a 7 Tesla MR system (complemented by a high-end 1.5T/m gradient insert, and a suite of dedicated RF coil, including a CryoCoilTM, for different imaging applications), a PET/SPECT/CT scanner, µCT and optical imaging all from the same vendor (Bruker, Germany) alongside high frequency ultrasound from FujiFilm Visualsonics and a state-of the-art surgical theatre.
In addition to research, ePIC also support teaching in FMH through practicals and projects for Diagnostic Radiography BSc and Medical Imaging MSc.
MR Physics team is a member of the Leeds MR Physics Collective, led by Profs D. Buckley, J. Schneider and Dr D. Wilson.
Applications
Imaging techniques -Imaging techniques in ePIC can be applied in vivo, in situ and or ex vivo, and include:
- High-resolution anatomical imaging (MRI & µCT)
- Tissue characterisation (MRI)
- Diffusion MRI for assessment of cellular microstructure
- Angiography for measurement of vasculature (µCT & MRI)
- Dixon imaging for fat-water quantification (MRI)
- Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and F18-based PET imaging for metabolic assessments
Research themes
Current research themes in ePIC comprise both application and method development of imaging techniques and include for example:
- Multi-parametric phenotyping of rodent hearts
- Cardiac 31P-MRS
- Imaging of cardiac regeneration
- Novel cardiac diffusion MRI techniques
- Multimodal functional imaging of brown adipose tissue
- MRI-driven robotics
- “Making the Invisible Visible”
Lead: Professor Jurgen E Schneider
Contact: Leah Khazin
Collaborators and sponsors
Collaborators
- Professor Sven Plein (UoL)
- Professor Lee Roberts (UoL)
- A/Professor Karen Forbes (LICAMM, UoL)
- Professor Pietro Valdastri (UoL)
- Professor Steven Evans (UoL)
- Professor Michelle Peckham
- A/Professor Michael Colman (FBS, UoL)
- Professor Derek Jones (CUBRIC, Cardiff)
- Professor Paul Riley (Oxford)
- Prof Christoph Rau (Diamond Lightsource Ltd)
- Associate Professor Craig Lygate (Glasgow University)
- Professor Andrew Blamire (Newcastle University)
- Dr Aneurin Kennerley (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Sponsors
- British Heart Foundation (BHF)
- NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)