About the Core
The Irradiation and Animal Core (IAC) is established on the foundation of the Experimental Radiation Core and the Radiation Biology Shared Resource. Services performed by the core staff include training in the operation of the sources, advice to users on the design of experiments using radiation, scheduling use of the sources, operating the sources when necessary, dosimetry for new experimental setups, and maintenance and repair of the resources.
The core is equipped with two cesium source irradiators (Mark 1, model 68A, and Model 81-8, Shepherd Inc.), Seifert Isovolt 320 X-ray generator, and the Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP, Xstrahl) and Rad Source RS-2000 biological X-ray cabinet. The core also has the capability to deliver a broad range of dose rates for a variety of purposes, such as irradiation of cell suspensions, animal tumors or other partial-body irradiations at dose rates comparable to those used in external beam radiotherapy.
Rupak Pathak, Ph.D.
Director, Irradiation and Animal Core
Dr. Pathak received his doctorate in radiation biology from the University of Kalyani, India and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in biodosimetry and radiation biology at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute in Maryland. He has more than 20 years of experience with numerous in vivo and in vitro radiation models.
Irradiation services
- Maintenance of irradiators, dosimetry
- Assistance in design and development of new animal or cell culture irradiation models
- Assistance in whole body or localized irradiation of animal models
- Assistance in radiation exposure of cell cultures
Equipment and Facilities
Core maintains equipment and provides experimental support:
- Cesium source irradiator, high dose rate, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
- Cesium source irradiator for chronic γ-ray exposures, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
- Seifert Isovolt 320 X-ray generator, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
- Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP, Xstrahl), Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
- X-Rad 320 biological X-ray cabinet, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
- Strontium-90 applicators (Eckert & Ziegler), Biomedical Research Building 2
Core Provides Experimental Support Only
Our new powerful and customizable Small Animal Radiation Research Platform constructed by Xstrahl (Camberley, United Kingdom) is based on state-of-the-art Image Guided Micro-Irradiation (IGM™) techniques containing a high accuracy cone beam CT imaging system and a high dose delivery therapeutic X-ray source in a single platform which will make it possible to target local spontaneous tumor. This enables us to pinpoint an exact anatomical target and confidently deliver 0.5mm beams to that point.
Chronic Irradiation Facility
Division of Radiation Health at UAMS has established a chronic irradiation facility using a 2.5-Ci Cs-137 radiation source (Model 81-8, J.L.Shepherd), which is capable of scattering radiation in all direction at dose rate of approximately 0.1 cGy/h. The facility has been modified as a satellite animal facility so that animals can be housed and irradiated for days/weeks/months. At least 30 big or 60 small animal cages can be placed around the source.
Small Animal Ultrasound Imaging
The high-resolution Vevo 3100 ultrasound system (FUJIFILM VisualSonics) is designed for imaging small laboratory animals. The system offers high-resolution (down to 30 μm) and high frame rate imaging (up to 740 fps), ideal for visualizing tumors, cardiovascular function, kidney perfusion, and more. Capabilities include 2D and 3D B-mode imaging, M-mode for heart function analysis, and Doppler for blood flow visualization. The core provides training, data analysis software, and ultrasound scanning services.