STTARR Research Program

The STTARR Innovation Centre, located on the 7th floor of the MaRS tower in Toronto’s Medical Discovery District, is an innovative research facility covering over 21,000 square feet (www.sttarr.ca). STTARR is the only imaging centre in the world providing state-of-the-art imaging technology for cellular studies at the level of DNA and proteins, multi-modality imaging of pre-clinical models as well as a correlative pathology lab in an integrated environment. Our data storage system is designed to accommodate ever-expanding amounts of image data. STTARR and Princess Margaret Hospital’s Radiation Medicine Program provide a platform for cutting-edge multidisciplinary radiotherapy research that is unmatched anywhere in the world. In addition to advancing our own research, STTARR was designed to support external and internal clients achieve their research aims.

We have a number of imaging instruments available to the research community including:

4 CT scanners, which support imaging at resolutions ranging from 15 to 150 microns.
An Image Guided Radiation Therapy Unit, for combined imaging and radiation treatment with sub-millimetre resolution.

A Bruker 7 Tesla MR scanner produces high quality high resolution MR images that can augment CT-based images and provide excellent soft tissue contrast and quantitative characterization.

The STTARR facility also has the capacity for nuclear imaging with a Siemens Focus 220 MicroPET and a BioScan NanoSPECT. The PET, SPECT and CT scanners are designed to assist in the non-invasive analysis of pre-clinical specimens.

For optical imaging we have a variety of small animal inaging systems. Research teams can use this to support applications such as tracking fluorescent tumour models, fluorescent molecular targeting agents, photodynamic therapy studies and fluorescent antibody-based assays

We also provide the latest in technology for high frequency ultrasound imaging from VisualSonics

We have dedicated animal holding areas, two fully equipped operating rooms and animal technicians and veterinarians available to provide handling and surgical assistance for your studies.

The STTARR Correlative Pathology laboratory is an exciting addition to the Innovation Centre. The lab is equipped with innovative technology to enable whole-mount pathology in a systematic way preserving the geometric integrity of the sample, enabling accurate correlation to the in vivo imaging.

Lastly, we have 1500 square-feet of wet lab space dedicated to developing new contrast agents, molecular probes and radiotracers.

The combination of state of the art equipment and our professional, dedicated staff, all housed in an unparalleled multidisciplinary radiotherapy research facility is what makes STTARR unmatched anywhere in the world.

For General Enquiries:
Tel: 416-581-7770
Fax: 416-260-9709
sttarr@rmp.uhn.on.ca