Small Animal Imaging Labs - RI-MUHC

The Small Animal Imaging Labs (SAIL) Platform is one of the Centre for Translational Biology (CTB) Technology Platforms at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC). It is a world-class non-invasive in vivo imaging facility, creating holistic preclinical models of diseases for biomedical researchers.

The SAIL Platform provides imaging equipment and services to facilitate the translational research studies of our industrial and academic clients. The platform offers expertise in planning, designing and executing in vivo imaging studies, image analysis and training.

Dedicated housing is available for mice and rats undergoing longitudinal imaging studies. Ancillary facilities and resources of the SAIL Platform are devoted to image processing and analysis, animal surgery and radiochemistry. The platform provides expertise in planning in vivo imaging studies, consultation and training.

Below are typical applications performed in the SAIL Platform:

• Brain imaging
• Anatomy, cortical thickness, microstructure, angiography, cerebral tumours, neuro-degeneration, stroke, brain activity
• Oncology
• Tumour volume, glucose uptake, metabolic state, metastasis detection, therapy assessment, tumour perfusion
• Structural imaging
• Bone anatomy, lung and airways, musculo-skeletal, kidney, ureter, bladder, implants, heart
• Drug biodistribution
• Pharmacokinetic modeling of radiolabeled compounds

The SAIL Platform conducts:

• 7T MRI
• Structural and functional imaging; 30cm bore
• PET and SPECT
• Metabolic activity and biodistribution; up to ~500µm resolution (SPECT)
• CT
• Structural imaging; up to 20µm resolution
• GAIT assessment tools
• Unforced locomotion, 50+ gait metrics on mice and rats, large range of applications
• Sleep analysis
• Non-invasive, easy-to-use, precise and accurate, standard cage environment