CF Research Center to Use MILabs’ CT System to Expand Knowledge of Pulmonary Diseases

The Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center (CFRC) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has acquired a MILabs adaptive X-ray CT system to conduct research in animal models of lung diseases, mainly in cystic fibrosis, but also in pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and sinonasal conditions.

The CT system, called U-CTUHR, was designed to conduct research in a variety of animals of different sizes, and offers a range of applications — from fast, high-resolution, low-dose imaging of bones, tissues and lungs, to high-precision dual-gated cardiac and pulmonary analysis.

Developed with the diagnostic excellence of computerized tomography (CT) and its application and scalability, a key feature of the U-CTUHR system is its ability to be upgraded to perform molecular CT scanning.

MILab’s U-CT systems are among the fastest preclinical X-ray CT products on the market, and are capable of performing a total body mouse scan within five seconds. The low ionizing radiation dose (down to 5 mGy) enables innovative longitudinal imaging protocols. The system also offers excellent in vivo resolutions.

“We are glad that such scalability has been a significant factor in UAB’s selection of the U-CT system,” Dr. Frederik J. Beekman, founder and CEO of MILabs, said in a news release.

Founded in 2006 as a spin-off from the University Medical Centre Utrecht in the Netherlands, MILabs develops preclinical imaging systems with supreme resolution, speed, and sensitivity. The company’s systems, which have been recognized with many international scientific awards, serve as the imaging platform for important medical discoveries in different fields, including oncology, neuroscience, pharmacology, cardiology, bone research and diabetes.

MILabs systems are created in different base configurations to meet researchers’ needs. The company enhanced its multi-parameter imaging technology by introducing adaptive X-ray CT and Hybrid Optical imaging systems in 2016.

The Cystic Fibrosis Research Center at UAB, where the U-CTUHR will be used, focuses on innovative and groundbreaking research in the field of cystic fibrosis and other lung diseases.