SAMRC Vevo F2 Imager Facility: Elevating In vivo Preclinical Research
The SAMRC’s Vevo F2 facility allows state-of-the-art non-invasive, real-time imaging for preclinical biological and physiological research. The advanced Vevo F2 imaging system will enhance the understanding of disease mechanisms, drug efficacy, and therapeutic outcomes across multiple fields, including oncology, cardiovascular disease, neurobiology, and fetal programming.
As a national platform, funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) National Equipment Programme (NEP) and co-funded by the SAMRC, the Vevo F2 facility provides research infrastructure for cutting-edge research and innovation. Accessible to researchers across South Africa, this facility will provide an enabling environment for scientific innovation, knowledge generation and capacity development. The Vevo F2 will be instrumental for skills development and creating globally competitive, quality scientific preclinical research. The system's multidisciplinary applications create opportunities for innovative projects and increased research productivity, fostering collaborations both within SAMRC and internationally.
The Vevo F2 is the world’s first ultra-high to low frequency ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging system, providing exceptional spatial resolution that enables the visualisation of small anatomical structures and microvascular details. Its real-time imaging capabilities are crucial for observing dynamic biological processes and functions in live animals, allowing researchers to monitor physiological changes, disease onset, and responses to treatments as they occur. The system includes advanced Doppler modes such as colour Doppler, power Doppler, and pulsed-wave Doppler, which are essential for assessing blood flow and vascular dynamics, particularly useful in cardiovascular research and tumour angiogenesis studies.
The Vevo F2 supports three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) imaging, offering comprehensive views of anatomical structures and enabling volumetric analysis beneficial for studying organ development, tumour growth, and other morphological changes over time. Its high sensitivity and specificity aid in detecting subtle changes in tissue properties and functions, making it a powerful tool for early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression.
The Vevo F2 facility, hosted by the SAMRC and based at the SAMRC Animal Facility in Delft, Cape Town is accessible to all researchers in South Africa and globally.
Please get in touch with the people below for further information.
- Dr. Kwazi Gabuza - Kwazi.Gabuza@mrc.ac.za
- Dr. Lawrence Mabasa - Lawrence.Mabasa@mrc.ac.za
- Ms. Joritha van Heerden - Joritha.vanHeerden@mrc.ac.za
For media inquiries, please contact:
Tendani Tsedu
Head of Corporate and Marketing Communications
e-mail: tendani.tsedu@mrc.ac.za
Mobile: 082 945 1980