Introduction
The Vascular Imaging Center (VIC) is part of the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care of the University Medical Center Utrecht. The VIC is a core laboratory facility that supports a range of vascular measurements, with the emphasis on ultrasound techniques. Since the start of the VIC in 1997, we have supported a large number of etiologic, prognostic and therapeutic vascular projects among a-symptomatic and symptomatic men and women from the general population, the outpatient clinic and the hospital using non-invasive techniques.

VIC facilitates all steps needed in a vascular project
The activities of the VIC comprise development of measurement protocols, advise on equipment, performing of actual measurements, training on site and certification, continuous quality assurance and quality control programs during the study, quantitative QC/QA, reading of stored images, data management, statistical analyses and scientific reporting. All activities are performed according to GCP guidelines, and documented ‘standard operation procedures’ are available for each procedure at the VIC, including the IT-procedures.
For all supported measurements the VIC provides training and certification of technicians for the protocols involved. Training can be given in Utrecht and on-side using the equipment of the participating center.

The supported measurements include
• Sub-clinical atherosclerosis
• retinal vascular characteristics
• fat distribution

Data management
The VIC uses a dedicated in-house developed database for all studies. The database is used to control the arrival, processing and storage of received materials (videotapes, diskettes, films). It supports quality control procedures (including external audits) and is able to transfer the grading results into a range of statistical packages. The VIC has its own IT infrastructure for image storage, measurements storage and grading, located in a secured environment; backups are made on a regular basis. For part of the administrative issues involved in multi-center studies, the VIC uses a Teleform approach, which enables direct storage and archiving of the paper trail in digitized format. This is currently transformed in a full digital environment.

Sponsors
The vascular projects supported by the VIC were sponsored by a variety of institutions: Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZON), Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), Netherlands Heart Foundation, Netherlands Diabetes Foundation, TNO-Zeist, and several pharmaceutical companies.

Past performance and location
Since 1997, we have performed more than 20000 vascular measurements in approximately 6500 subjects. The VIC is situated at Bolognalaan 12, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Correspondence may be directed to Prof. Michiel L. Bots, MD, PhD.