Erasmus MC has been investing in imaging expertise and systems for quite some time and has built unique expertise in a number of areas. Various technologies (i.e. equipment as well as expertise) are put together in one new facility: Applied Molecular Imaging Erasmus MC. Combinations of imaging modalities can be applied to a single research question, or one experimental animal. From experience we know that a physical grouping of complementary techniques and expertise is a must to reach successful synergy. The new central imaging facility is largely housed in the new research unit in the Erasmus MC Experimental Animal Centre (EDC).

The research in the departments of Erasmus MC covers a wide range of topics; cancer research, microbiology/immunology, developmental biology and pharmacology.

Discover our comprehensive selection of state-of-the-art preclinical imaging equipment designed to enhance your research capabilities:

• Discovery MR901 – 7T MRI
• FMT2500 – Fluorescent Optical Imaging
• Gammacounter for radioactive samples
• IVIS Spectrum – Optical Imaging
• MSOT – 3D Optoacoustics
• NanoScan – SPECT, 1T MRI
• Quantum Gx2 – microCT
• VECTor – SPECT/PET, microCT and Optical Imaging
• Vevo3100 - Ultrasound
• Vevo LAZR-X photoacoustic addition to the Vevo3100
• Workstation with analysis software packages Imalytics, PMOD, Analyze, VEVOlab and more 

Explore our showcases of cutting-edge preclinical imaging, where groundbreaking techniques and applications come to life, advancing our understanding of complex biological processes and disease mechanisms.

1. Quintuple Modality Tumor Necrosis Imaging

"Unlocking Insights into Tumor Aggressiveness and Therapy Effectiveness"

Leverage the power of both nuclear and optical imaging to pinpoint therapy-induced tumor necrosis. This multimodal approach offers complementary insights into tumor response. PET with FDG closely monitors tumor metabolism and serves as a benchmark for treatment efficacy. While SPECT and fluorescent imaging (FLI), armed with an advanced necrosis-avid contrast agent, accurately reveal areas of necrosis, exploiting damaged membrane integrity to image cell death. Additionally, bioluminescent imaging (BLI) detects viable tumor cells. Together, this comprehensive array of imaging modalities provide vital insights guiding tailored treatment strategies. 

This figure was originally published in: 
Stroet MCM, de Blois E, de Jong M, Seimbille Y, Mezzanotte L, Löwik CWGM, Panth KM. Improved Multimodal Tumor Necrosis Imaging with IRDye800CW-DOTA Conjugated to an Albumin-Binding Domain. Cancers. 2022; 14(4):861.

2. Optical Imaging of Tumor Response

“Explore the Impact of Therapy on Tumor Vasculature”

Optical imaging provides a non-invasive way to monitor processes involved in tumor growth and metastasis formation in immunodeficient mice. Here fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT), with its advanced 3D imaging capabilities, is used to delve into the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and irradiation on tumor dynamics. By analyzing blood vessel quality with AngioSense and unraveling hypoxia with HypoxiSense probes, FMT offers a comprehensive overview of the tumor environment. Seamlessly integrating FMT with CT images provides precise anatomical references.  Thus, optical imaging methods can unveil longitudinal insights into tumor characteristics, revolutionizing oncology research.

3. Imaging Drug Delivery with SPECT and DCE-MRI

“Unveiling Tumor Dynamics”

The combination of SPECT and MRI can unveil vital insights into the perfusion efficiency and the accumulation of radiolabeled receptor-targeting peptides in solid tumors. This multimodal approach reveals nuanced variations in functional tumor characteristics, even in seemingly homogeneous tissue. By leveraging DCE-MRI-derived parameters, it is possible to decode tumor perfusion, vessel density, and permeability, unlocking insights into the impact of vascular traits on the efficacy of receptor-targeting therapies. 

This figure was originally published in: 
Haeck JC, Bol K, de Ridder CMA et al. Imaging heterogeneity of peptide delivery and binding in solid tumors using SPECT imaging and MRI. EJNMMI Research. 2016; 6(3).

Access to and use of the AMIE instrumentation is permitted under the supervision of AMIE personnel. Training is provided for those who plan to use the equipment independently.

Costs for equipment use depends on user requirements. For more information contact the AMIE.

The AMIE provides full-service support on all equipment for imaging experiments, with the option to obtain training for independent use.

All imaging modalities have isoflurane equipment for anesthesia.

Those interested in conducting their own imaging research can undergo training to operate the equipment, develop optimized imaging protocols tailored to their research question, and receive instructions on data analysis techniques.

AMIE is involved in several educational activities including workshops (e.g., Translational Imaging Workshop by AMIE ‘From mouse to man’), symposia (e.g., OIC & AMIE Advanced imaging Techniques; From bench to bedside) and Masters programs (e.g., Infection & Immunity, Neuroimaging).

As the imaging field continues to expand, we believe in the importance of ongoing development and learning. Therefore, we are currently exploring options to organize in-depth workshops focused on specific imaging techniques, aimed at enhancing both skills and knowledge of our users and anyone interested.

If you are seeking a lecture or talk on preclinical imaging techniques and/or applications for your program, or if you would like to arrange a guided tour through the AMIE facility, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via email.

New imaging device installed: Introducing the MILabs Hybrid U-OI/CT System

We are excited to announce the arrival of the MILabs Hybrid U-OI/CT imaging system at the AMIE Core Facility. This cutting-edge device, funded through the generous support of the Nefkens Foundation for the Cancer Program, represents a significant advancement in preclinical imaging capabilities.

The MILabs Hybrid U-OI/CT system combines high-resolution microCT with optical imaging (OI), enabling researchers to perform real-time tumor monitoring and detailed anatomical imaging in a single session. Its hybrid imaging functionality eliminates the need to transfer samples between separate systems, ensuring seamless and efficient workflows. 

Key Features of the System: 

• Integrated optical imaging (fluorescence and bioluminescence) and microCT for hybrid imaging. 
• Real-time tumor and tissue monitoring with precise 3D fluorescence imaging. 
• Flexibility for standalone OI or CT applications, allowing parallel experimentation. 

The system is now accessible to all AMIE researchers. Whether your research focuses on cancer, molecular imaging, or other preclinical studies, this advanced technology offers unparalleled opportunities to elevate your work. 

Impression of our 'Data Analysis Techniques for Preclinical Imaging' workshop - November 28th & 29th 2024

Last November, the AMIE core facility together with the Imaging office of the Erasmus MC, organized a workshop focused on Data Analysis Techniques for Preclinical Imaging. We provided the participants with essential insights and skills for analyzing preclinical imaging data and the opportunity to network with fellow researchers and industry.

We were able to do this through the enthusiastic involvement of experts like Chris Vanhove (Image processing basics), Ilva van Houwelingen (Advanced image processing techniques + hands-on training with freeware: Weasis and 3D slicer), Theo van Walsum (hands-on training with freeware: MeVisLab), Oleh Dzyubachyk (Analysis of small animal imaging data: examples, challenges, and opportunities) and Joanes Grandjean (Data curation). Felix Gremse from Gremse-IT and Geoffrey Warnock from PMOD Technologies provided a hands-on training with commercial available data analysis software (Imalytics and PMOD, respectively). 

This photo collage gives you an impression of the workshop:

Conferences

Stay informed and inspired at these upcoming imaging conferences:

• SNMMI annual meeting, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, June 21-24, 2025
• WMIC, World Molecular Imaging Congress, Anchorage, Alaska, September 29 - October 3, 2025
• BIOEMTECH’s Preclinical Workshop, Athens, Greece, September 30 - October 3, 2025
• EANM annual meeting, European Association of Nuclear Medicine, Barcelona, Spain, October 4-8, 2025
• ESMRMB annual scientific meeting, European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology, Marseille, France, October 8-11, 2025
• RSNA annual meeting, Radiological Society of North America, Chicago, USA, November 30 - December 4, 2025
• European Symposium on Ultrasound Contrast Imaging, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, January 22-23, 2026
• EMIM, European Molecular Imaging Meeting, Ljubljana, Slovenia, March 24-27, 2026

Recent publications

Discover advances in science by researchers using imaging technologies in our core facility. Browse through publications from AMIE and AMIE users and see how imaging may advance your research.

Featured publications

Preclinical SPECT and PET: Joint EANM and ESMI procedure guideline for implementing an efficient quality control programme. Vanhove C, Koole M, Fragoso Costa P, Schottelius M, Mannheim J, Kuntner C, Warnock G, McDougald W, Tavares A, Bernsen M.  Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2024 Nov;51(13):3822-3839. doi:10.1007/s00259-024-06824-5.

Hybrid Molecular and Functional Micro-CT Imaging Reveals Increased Myocardial Apoptosis Preceding Cardiac Failure in Progeroid Ercc1 Mice. van Thiel BS, de Boer M, Ridwan Y, de Kleijnen MGJ, van Vliet N, van der Linden J, de Beer I, van Heijningen PM, Vermeij WP, Hoeijmakers JHJ, Danser AHJ, Kanaar R, Duncker DJ, van der Pluijm I, Essers J. Mol Imaging Biol. 2024 Aug;26(4):628-637. doi: 10.1007/s11307-024-01902-4.

Pre-transplant kidney quality evaluation using photoacoustic imaging during normothermic machine perfusion. Nikolaev AV, Fang Y, Essers J, Panth KM, Ambagtsheer G, Clahsen-van Groningen MC, Minnee RC, van Soest G, de Bruin RWF. Photoacoustics. 2024 Feb 9;36:100596. doi: 10.1016/j.pacs.2024.100596.

Imaging at the AMIE

The AMIE is a facility that houses preclinical imaging equipment, providing researchers with access to specialized tools and the expertise of imaging specialists to address their research questions.

Dr. Monique Bernsen has a PhD in Medical Biology and has been active in Molecular Imaging since 2004. In 2010 she was involved as co-chair in the realization of the AMIE facility, and since 2019 she is Head Operations and Daily Management of the AMIE Core Facility. You can always contact her for questions about the possibilities that AMIE offers for your research and for entering into collaborations. Our goal is to promote and enable the use of advanced preclinical imaging techniques in any way possible.

Dr. Jeroen Essers holds a PhD in Molecular Biology and is a group leader Molecular Imaging at the Erasmus MC. As Head Innovation of the AMIE Core Facility he wants to strengthen the further development of medical and advanced imaging technology and he therefore focusses on exploring, recommending and designing new imaging modalities and programs in order to maintain the pioneering role of the AMIE imaging facility. This way we established a knowledge centre for imaging technology and an accessible test location for new imaging technology. Start-ups can develop innovative imaging technology and present themselves more easily to potential users and investors. Innovation and collaboration are achieved through ease of accessibility of AMIE for internal and external partners.

Dr. Sandra van Tiel completed a BSc in Medical Biology (1995) at the Hoger Laboratorium Onderwijs in Delft and a PhD in cellular imaging (2020) at the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. Sandra was appointed to her current position in April 2019. Her work primarily involves performing and supervising imaging experiments using PET, SPECT, CT and MRI. Sandra is the registered coordinating radiation expert and the animal coordinator of the AMIE. You can contact her if you need help setting up your experiment, but also if you need help writing a study protocol or project license.

Yanto Ridwan completed a BSc in Medical Biology (2007) at the Hoger Laboratorium Onderwijs in Rotterdam. He was appointed as an application specialist, with the main focus on optical imaging and microCT. His tasks include providing preliminary advice on the use of preclinical imaging modalities, providing technical support and he is also involved in application development, education, planning and equipment maintenance.

Dr. Marjolein Verhoeven completed a MSc in Medical Natural Sciences with a specialization in medical physics (2018) and a MSc in Oncology (2018) at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. In 2024 she obtained her PhD in preclinical molecular imaging and therapy at the department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine at the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. Since 2023, she has been part of the AMIE Core Facility team as an application specialist with a focus on MRI. She is responsible for supporting MRI users through training, instruction and technical assistance, and for expanding the application possibilities of the MRI equipment.

AMIE is uniquely positioned within the Netherlands and relative to facilities in other countries worldwide. Not only does AMIE house an extensive array of imaging equipment with all modalities currently used for preclinical in vivo imaging, AMIE also has expert staff dedicated to the facility and is therefore able to continuously offer research support. Through close interaction with scientific experts and industry, AMIE fulfils a central role in the cycle of advancing imaging techniques, innovative research, and technology development, including hardware, software and wetware. That all equipment is only meters apart or even combined in a single platform is an immense benefit: study objects can be easily transferred between platforms giving investigators the opportunity to use several imaging modalities to gain extensive insight into their research question. This has already resulted in unique discoveries in various fields, e.g. stem-cell, cardiovascular and cancer research, which would not have been possible using single imaging modalities, and there remain many more applications which have yet to benefit from multi-modal experiments. Furthermore, imaging maximizes the information that can be gained from a given animal (refining), contributing to reduction of laboratory animal use.

The unique combination of extensive preclinical imaging equipment, cutting-edge technology, and dedicated in-house experts makes AMIE attractive to researchers both in NL and worldwide.

Discover the diverse range of users and collaborators who have utilized our state-of-the-art facility to push the boundaries of scientific research and innovation:

Erasmus MC departments using the facility:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Clinical Genetics
• Experimental Cardiology
• Ear, nose and Throat
• Hematology
• Immunology
• Internal Medicine
• Medical Oncology
• Molecular Genetics
• Neurology
• Neurosciences
• Neurosurgery
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthopedics & Sports medicine
• Pathology
• Pediatrics
• Pharmacology
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Radiology & Nuclear Medicine
• Radiotherapy
• Rheumatology
• (Experimental) Surgery
• Urology
• Viroscience

Dutch academic users and partners:

• Amsterdam Universitair Medisch Centrum (Amsterdam UMC), locatie AMC
• Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC)
• Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum (LUMC)
• Radboud Universitair Medisch Centrum (Radboudumc)
• Technische Universiteit Delft (TU Delft)
• Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (TU/e)
• Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen (UMCG)
• Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht (UMC Utrecht)
• Universiteit Maastricht (UM)
• Wageningen University & Research (WUR)

Dutch non-academic users and partners:

• Cenya Imaging BV
• HollandPTC
• MILabs BV
• Quirem Medical BV

International academic users and partners:

• KU Leuven (Prof. Uwe Himmelreich)
• NCSR Demokritos Athens (Dr. Theodosia Maina-Nock)
• UGent (Prof. Christian Vanhove, Prof. Julie de Backer)
• University of Edinburgh (Dr. Adriana Tavares)
• University of Pittsburgh (Dr. M. Weinberg, Dr. Zsolt Urban)

International non-academic users and partners:

• Chiesi Pharmaceuticals BV
• Gremse-IT

There are currently no available positions.