The TBIR manages a VisualSonics Vevo 3100 along with data management and analysis software. This small-animal ultrasound device provides axial resolution down to 30 microns. The system can be used to measure a variety of cancer-related metrics such as tumor growth, tumor blood flow and volume, angiogenesis, and molecular imaging with microbubble contrast agents. Cardiovascular imaging and measurement of cardiac function are two other popular applications. The technology also applies to other disciplines including neurosciences, embryology, and ophthalmology. Specialized human studies are also possible with institutional review board approval.
Researchers at the University have used Vevo systems on a number of projects in diverse areas, from investigating the effects of environmental contaminants such as trichloroethylene and arsenic to the imaging of adipose tissues. The TBIR is currently working with the Treatment, Research, and Education of Adipose Tissue (TREAT) Program in the UA Department of Medicine to image lipedema and other subcutaneous adipose tissue disorders. The resource is also collaborating in a project to measure tumor growth and angiogenesis using microbubbles as an ultrasound contrast agent. The TBIR is also collaborating on a longitudinal study of etiology and treatment of chronic heart failure after myocardial infarction, ex-vivo studies of cardiac development in chicken embryos, and studies tracking induced development of tumors in the liver.