The Preclinical Imaging Laboratories-PIL are located at the Center for Biomedical Research – Level 1Q on the Campus of the Medical University of Vienna and at the TechCampus Seibersdorf in Lower Austria. General access to the facility is available from Mon-Fri between 8:30 and 16:30. Other use times are possible, in this case please contact the PIL Head of Operation prior to starting an experiment.
Two general use policies are available:
Independent research: Users receive equipment training from the PIL experts on the dedicated modality and are subsequently qualified to conduct experiments on their own in the PIL facility. This is preferred when using Optical Imaging, Ultrasound and EchoMRI.
Collaborative research: The PIL experts support researchers in the planning of the experiments, performance of data acquisition and image analysis as well as the final reporting of imaging data. Data acquisition is performed by PIL staff and this is preferred for the use of PET/SPECT/CT and PET/MRI projects.
For all projects, an individual project ID is generated and the imaging raw data will be stored under this project ID on the pil-storage server. Scan data is generally stored for at least 12 months, in exceptional cases longer storage periods are possible.
For additional information, please contact us under: pil@meduniwien.ac.at
The Intramural Committee for Animal Experimentation of the Medical University of Vienna reviews all animal experimentation protocols before it is submitted to the respective authority. All projects are assessed according to scientific and ethical criteria and whether the scientific purpose of the project justifies the involvement of living animals.
The PIL experts offer guidance and regulatory advice on imaging aspects in the animal experimentation protocol. It is important and highly recommended to seek the advice of the PIL core experts before submitting an application to the Intramural Committee for Animal Experimentation.
Please note that for all PIL projects involving living animals the final version of the submitted animal experimentation protocol as well as the final approval issued by the authorities must be submitted to the PIL Head of Operation.
For additional information, please contact the Intramural Committee for Animal Experimentation.
The preclinical imaging laboratories are a radiation protection area. Any personnel conducting work in this area must be monitored for accumulated radiation dose by wearing personal (whole-body) dosimeters. This also applies to personnel conducting experiments with non-radiation sources such as ultrasound, echoMRI and optical imaging. Additional dosimeters (finger-dosimeters) may be necessary depending on the imaging modality and type of experiments. Please contact your local radiation protection officer as well as the radiation protection officer of the Department for Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy this is in order to have the mandatory radiation protection training prior to starting any experiments in the PIL. In addition, each person conducting experiments in the PIL has to be trained individually in workplace radiation protection measures by the PIL Head of Operation.
For radiation protection training please contact: lukas.nics@meduniwien.ac.at
For local workplace radiation protection training please contact: pil@meduniwien.ac.at
For dosimeter ordering and price information please click here.
The service fees for investigations carried out at the PIL cover all costs for the study organisation (PIL-calendar), scanner maintenance, quality assurance and operator training. Additional costs that are incurred are scan material provided by the PIL (anesthesia), laboratory and administration material, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Not included in the PIL service fees are the purchase and housing of laboratory animals and radiotracer synthesis and/or contrast agents.
For a detailed project cost estimate for grant submissions contact the PIL Head of Operation before submission to the respective grant agency.
For a detailed overview of the service fees for the individual imaging modalities please refer to the following document: Service fee document
Registered and equipment-trained users can book their imaging time slot using the online pil-booking tool. For user access, please contact the PIL Head of Operation: pil@meduniwien.ac.at
Please book your time slot here: pil-calendar