The University of Virginia has become the first organisation in North America to install the Xstrahl SARRP research platform, the most advanced and flexible system commercially available for radiation biology and preclinical research.
The platform was installed at the University’s School of Medicine in June after receiving a highly competitive Shared Instrumentation Grant (S10) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The SARRP platform enables state-of-the-art Image Guided Micro-Irradiation (IGMI) techniques to be performed in in vivo models and allows researchers to replicate the radiotherapy process of imaging, target localization and radiotherapy treatment delivery to patients. The technological improvements provided by the SARRP platform significantly enhances the radiation-based research capabilities at the University of Virginia. This is enabling a wide range of basic and translational oncology research investigations as well as research into immunology and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore investigations on re-evaluating the short and long term effects of current radiation therapies can be performed and their efficacy validated.
“The powerful imaging and flexibility of the SARRP platform with its strong scientific validation made it an obvious choice to support the many diverse radiation-based research activities carried out at the Medical School.” says Dr. Ke Sheng, Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia: “In addition, its compact footprint made it perfect for installation in our lab as we were able to fit it into a shielded room without major renovation.”
Martin Robinson, President of Gulmay Medical Incorporated, Xstrahl’s US subsidiary, says, “This first commercial installation of SARRP in North America is a crucial step in Xstrahl’s development as the company expands globally.”
Xstrahl
