The Cancer Imaging Shared Service (CISS) at the Arizona Cancer Center (AZCC) has been providing services to AZCC and outside investigators since 2003. The goal of the Service is to provide access to a turnkey optical imaging system, and to pre-clinical and clinical imaging technologies. The CISS also offers a developmental component to evaluate and initiate new research projects, and oversees access to the wide range of image acquisition modalities, including bioluminescence imaging, MR, and PET/SPECT approaches for animal experiments. An image analysis facility acts as a central clearinghouse to consolidate and standardize state-of-the-art image processing and analysis routines. Within this context, the ISS provides five services:
1. Optical imaging capabilities in Nikon Confocal Imaging.
2. Optical imaging capabilities in the new Leica Confocal Imaging.
3. Optical imaging services in Bioluminescence Analysis of gene expression.
4. Image analysis approaches and assistance in developing and customizing specific image processing techniques in Image Analysis Facility.
5. Imaging Response Assessment Team (IRAT) Assessment Teams.
6. Small Animal Imaging.