The Small Animal Imaging Center, which opened in March 2008, provides state-of-the-art in vivo imaging capabilities to MUSC researchers. The center's mission is to support the thriving and growing research environment at the Hollings Cancer Center and the university at large.

In vivo serial imaging of animal models of disease can provide information not easily obtained by other methods. With tracking of disease process, the number of animals used in an experiment can be reduced by eliminating the need to sacrifice animals at multiple time points. The advent of commercially available imaging devices capable of interrogating small animals is revolutionizing biomedical research and has opened up the field of molecular imaging. Our center provides access to instruments and expertise to aid MUSC researchers in leading the way to advancing biomedicine.

Bioluminescence imaging of human glioma in spinal cord of rats. Longitudinal images demonstrating signal intensity over time in control (left) and animals with human glioblastoma expressing firefly luciferase injected into the spine (mid and right). Bioluminescence imaging enables noninvasive assessment of tumor presence and size over time in the same animals.