The University of Oviedo sets in motion a new Preclinical Imaging Unit subject to the academic institution's Scientific-Technical Services. The new laboratory allows researchers who make use of animal models for their research to make diagnostic imaging tests similar to the ones carried out with humans, such as the scan or the magnetic resonance.

The equipment, which has been placed in the University of Oviedo's Vivarium, includes some cutting-edge machines in the field, which have converted the University of Oviedo into one of the best equipped academic centres in Spain for developing this kind of preclinical research. Nowadays, around 500 research teams at the University of Oviedo resort to the facilities offered by the Vivarium in order to carry out their research.

The new laboratory has meant a global inversion of 1,1 million euros, funded by FEDER, and is equipped with diagnostic imaging machines which are adapted to the animal organism and diseases. The main acquired equipments are: a magnetic resonance, SPET (Single Photom Emission Tomography), PET CT (Positrom Emission Tomography Computed Tomography) and a Micro CT.

Scientific Encounter

On the occasion of the start-up of the Preclinical Imaging Unit, the Cluster of Biomedicine and Health of the Campus of International Excellence has organised, for next Friday, 20 April, a Scientific Encounter in which the Spanish and International most outstanding biomedical researchers, such as Carlos López-Otín, Ginés Morata and Carlos Martínez Alonso, will participate. Under the title "Imaging techniques in preclinical research", the scientists will highlight the importance of this type of technology when improving the results of research with animal models.

The Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Oviedo, Carlos López-Otín, will deliver a speech entitled "From rats to humans: animal models and human diseases". The Prince of Asturias Award for Research and lecturer at the Centre of Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa, Ginés Morata, will give a lecture on whether " Can flies help understand cancer?". The first lecture of the session will be given by Carlos Martínez Alonso, lecturer at the National Centre of Biotechnology and ex-President of the CSIC, who will focus on the situation of "Biomedicine and future challenges".

The session on Imaging Techniques in Preclinical Research will be developed on Friday from 9.30 am. at the Assembly Hall of the Faculty of Medicince of the University of Oviedo.