A virtualized infrastructure for molecular imaging research using a data grid model

The animal-to-researcher workflow in many of today's small animal imaging center is burdened with proprietary data limitations, inaccessible back-up methods, and imaging results that are not easily viewable across campus. Such challenges decrease the amount of scans performed per day at the center and requires researchers to wait longer for their images and quantified results. Furthermore, data mining at the small animal imaging center is often limited to researcher names and date-labelled archiving hard-drives. To gain efficiency and reliable access to small animal imaging data, such a center needs to move towards an integrated workflow with file format normalization services, metadata databases, expandable archiving infrastructure, and comprehensive user interfaces for query / retrieval tools - achieving all in a cost-effective manner. This poster presentation demonstrates how grid technology can support such a molecular imaging and small animal imaging research community to bridge the needs between imaging modalities and clinical researchers. Existing projects have utilized the Data Grid in PACS tier 2 backup solutions, where fault-tolerance is a high priority, as well as imagingbased clinical trials where data security and auditing are primary concerns. Issues to be addressed include, but are not limited to, novel database designs, file format standards, virtual archiving and distribution workflows, and potential grid computing for 3-D reconstructions, co-registration, and post-processing analysis.