Using the Facility – Overview
Scientists at UC Davis and other research institutions are invited to use the CMGI for their research. We are able to provide assistance with study design, imaging procedures, imaging probe design, and image analysis. The CMGI staff can perform the imaging procedures for you, or you can perform the imaging unassisted after you’ve been trained by our staff. Use of the facility is by appointment only (section #6 below) and PIs are recharged (see Rates) for their imaging time, radiotracers and for any laboratory and/or data analysis support. The following information is provided to assist with utilizing our services.
- Pilot Studies: UC Davis PIs may be allowed free scanning time, particularly if the scans are to obtain preliminary data for a grant proposal, and if the PI lacks sufficient funding to pay for imaging sessions. The CMGI review committee will consider the application and you will typically be notified of approval or denial within two weeks after submission. The application can be found here.
- Animal Care Protocol: All PIs will need an approved Animal Use and Care Protocol (AUC#); allow 4-6 weeks for approval of a new protocol by the IACUC. If you already have an approved protocol, but it does not cover imaging studies, an amendment can be submitted to the IACUC. Most imaging studies will use the procedures described in our approved “CMGI SOP for Small Animal Imaging”. If your study procedures are covered in that document, simply indicate in the Animal Use and Care Protocol (section 12 a.) or in your amendment that your studies will conform to that SOP. If you will need the assistance of CMGI staff to perform your imaging procedures, include in your protocol (section 12a.) or amendment a statement that the imaging studies will be performed by CMGI staff under the standard CMGI SOP. If your procedures do not comply with those in the SOP, or for assistance with AUC Protocol preparation, contact Brad Hobson (bahobson@ucdavis.edu). Researchers from other institutions should contact Brad Hobson for assistance with obtaining an approved AUC Protocol.
- Radiation Use Authorization (RUA): PIs who will use PET or autoradiographic imaging will require an approved Radiation Use Authorization (RUA#). However, if animals will not be transported out of the CMGI while they are radioactive, PIs may not require their own RUA if their procedures are covered by the Animal Studies Safety Protocol of the CMGI’s RUA. If PIs choose to perform PET or autoradiography studies unassisted, their personnel working with radioactivity must meet the following requirements: Personnel must take the “Laboratory Radiation Safety” class offered by EH&S, be listed on the RUA that covers their imaging study, wear radiation dosimetry whenever working with radioactivity, and follow CMGI safety protocols for working with radioactive material.
- Animal Transfer and Housing: Mice and rats are housed in the vivarium immediately adjacent to the imaging suites. To obtain access to this vivarium contact Allister Reyes (530-752-6722; ajfreyes@ucdavis.edu). When ordering animals for your study, specify housing at the GBSF vivarium. If your animals are housed at another UCD vivarium, or they are to be transferred from another institution, you must obtain permission from the Health Monitoring Coordinator (animaltransfer@ucdavis.edu) before they can be brought into the GBSF vivarium or into the CMGI imaging suites. It is important to seek this permission well in advance of your imaging date in case your animals need to be treated for an infectious disease, or require quarantine, which can delay your imaging session for weeks. Please refer to the specific procedures for rodent transfers between facilities established by the Teaching and Research Animal Care Services (TRACS). Transfer of caged animals to the vivarium or to the imaging suites must be performed in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Rodent Transport policy in order to minimize the risk of infection to other research animals. Researchers performing unassisted studies with radioactive animals are responsible for: 1) Returning the animals to the designated vivarium holding room for radioactive animals (Room 0658), placing them in a clean cage, and checking the animals daily; 2) labeling the cage with radioactive tape indicating the date, isotope, dose, and estimated time when the animal will no longer be radioactive; 3) changing the cage 7 days after the last cage change if the animal is still radioactive; 4) contacting TRACS (Phone: 530-752-1390) to place a work order to transfer the animal to its home room once it is no longer radioactive.
- Instrument Training: Training is provided on the imaging instruments without charge for those investigators who wish to perform their studies without CMGI staff assistance. Once the trainee has demonstrated under our supervision their ability to operate the instrument according to CMGI policies and procedures, they will be allowed to use the instrument without supervision. To setup a training session, contact cmgi@ucdavis.edu. As noted above, unassisted use of PET also requires completion of an EH&S safety class; unassisted use of CT requires completion of the “Analytical X-ray Safety” class (EH&S), and personnel must then be added to a Machine Use Authorization (MUA).
- Schedule An Imaging Session:
PET, CT: Contact cmgi@ucdavis.edu to request an appointment time for either an assisted or unassisted imaging session. Requests for imaging sessions that are more than 2 months away will only be scheduled on a tentative basis. Every attempt will be made to arrange the schedule so that all requests can be accommodated. For PET imaging, see section #3 above (Radiation Use Authorization). If you need to postpone an appointment, contact cmgi@ucdavis.edu at least 2 days prior to the appointment so the time slot can be used by another investigator.
OPTICAL, MRI: For assisted scans contact cmgi@ucdavis.edu to request an appointment time. For unassisted scans, access to the scheduling calendar will be provided to users once they have been trained in use of the instrument. It is the responsibility of the user to delete their reservation if they will be unable to use the time slot. CRYOTOME, AUTORADIOGRAPHY, PROCEDURE ROOM: An online scheduling calendar is available to reserve use of the cryotome, to perform autoradiography, or use the procedure room for approved procedures. Contact cmgi@ucdavis.edu to request internet access to the scheduling calendar or to discuss use of the procedure room.
- Recharge Rates: Use of the CMGI is on a recharge basis (see Rates). UCD investigators will be required to provide a DaFIS account number. All other users can contact cmgiimaging@ucdavis.edu or the Business Administrator, Lisa Hayes (lisahayes@ucdavis.edu) to discuss the method of payment.
- Frequent User Reward Program: The CMGI offers a reward program to PIs who are frequent users of the imaging equipment and/or CMGI-produced radiotracers. Access program details here.
- Surgical Procedures: The CMGI does not provide support for surgical procedures, but the CMGI procedure room (0662) can be used for animal dissection as part of biodistribution studies. The adjacent GBSF vivarium has three procedure rooms for PIs to conduct small animal surgeries. These rooms are provided with an isoflurane anesthesia unit, but PIs must provide all surgical instruments and supplies. Room reservations and additional information are available at http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ars/procedure_rooms.html; reservations can also be made by telephone (530-752-1390). Animals from outside the GBSF vivarium must receive prior approval from the Health Monitoring Coordinator (animaltransfer@ucdavis.edu) before they can be brought into the vivarium.