Development of the MIT Quantitative Microscopy and Imaging Network

在生物科学和相关工程学科的测量方法中，显微镜是无处不在的。事实上，麻省理工学院的所有实验室都使用某种形式的显微技术，但这些图像通常是使用市售系统和标准化处理软件在单独的机器上获取、存储和分析的。解释通常仍然是定性的，个人用户可用的存储能力限制了数据传输速度和可以维护的原始和已处理图像的数量。然而，今天，计算机化的网络可以极大地增强和扩展图像的获取、处理、分析、存储和解释。因此，该项目旨在开发一个定量显微镜和图像处理网络(QMIPN)，使人们能够访问能够快速有效地获取、传输、存储和调用图像的设施。中央和远程站点都将提供用于定量图像解释的先进方法。QMIPN还将作为一个平台，用于开发新的成像模式，进一步增强硬件和软件图像处理模块，并建立自动化和远程图像采集和分析形式。计划分三个阶段：第一阶段--首席调查员将使用相关研究项目作为原型来确定网络能力。光、荧光、共焦、原子力和透射电子显微镜将连接到中央服务器/路由器。这些显微镜将被改装，以提供通用接口、数据存储和分析范例，以及自动远程访问和图像处理。本地计算机终端将控制每个显微镜和样品，与中央处理器通信，并执行基本的图像过滤。采集到图像将通过高速ATM连接传输并下载到大容量系统，以便采用更复杂的、计算机密集型处理方法。第二阶段--这一网络将扩大到包括更多的研究人员和项目，使用核心显微镜设施或他们自己的单独实验室显微镜设施。廉价的新CD-ROM写入功能将用于创建存储图像的大型数据库。通过开发索引和检索方法，这些图像可以成为世界范围内的信息来源。第三阶段--该网络将扩展到校内外更广泛的调查人员群体。透过互联网进入我们的网络，将会提供一个强大的教学工具，供其他较不占优势的院校利用，而所需的投资相对较少。这将增加开发创新的推广方案以丰富课程的可能性，例如，在没有强大研究方案的较小的少数族裔学校。随着网络的发展，将产生三大好处：1.提高研究效率和创新，因为多用户设施使具有不同兴趣和技能的调查人员在应用程序和技术方面都有不同的兴趣和技能；2.通过广泛传播和应用最先进的图像获取和处理方法，提高研究生产率；3.由于易于从电子信息网络获取视觉图像显示和分析，因此加强了校内外科学家和工程师在研究和教学方面的合作。大量的配套资金已经从各种机构和其他非联邦来源筹集到，随时准备利用这笔赠款。

Microscopy is ubiquitous among measurement methods in the biological sciences and related engineering disciplines. Virtually all laboratories at MIT utilize some form of microscopic technology, yet these images are commonly obtained, stored, and analyzed on individual machines using commercially-available systems and standardized processing software. Interpretations often remain qualitative, and storage capabilities available to individual users limit data transfer speed and the number of raw and processed images that can be maintained. Today, however, computerized networks can greatly enhance and extend image acquisition, processing, analysis, storage, and interpretation. Accordingly, this project aims to develop a Quantitative Microscopy & Image Processing Network (QMIPN) that will enable access to facilities capable of acquiring, transferring, storing, and recalling images rapidly and efficiently. Advanced methodologies for quantitative image interpretation will be available from both central and remote sites. QMIPN will also serve as a platform for developing new imaging modalities, further enhancing hardware and software image processing modules, and establishing automated and remote forms of image acquisition and analysis. Three phases are planned: PHASE I -- The Principal Investigators will use relevant research projects as prototypes to define network capabilities. Light, fluorescent, confocal, atomic-force, and transmission electron microscopes will be connected to a central server/router. These microscopes will be adapted to provide common interface, data storage, and analysis paradigms, along with automated remote access and image manipulation. Local computer terminals will control each microscope and sample, communicate with the central processor, and perform basic image filtering. Acquired images will be transported via high-speed ATM connections and downloaded to large capacity systems so that more complex, computer-intensive proces sing methods can be employed. PHASE II -- This network will be broadened to involve an increased number of investigators and projects, employing either the core microscope facilities or their own individual laboratory microscope facilities. Inexpensive new CD-ROM writing capabilities will be used to create a large database of stored images. By developing indexing and retrieval methods, these images can be a world-wide source of information. PHASE III -- The network will be extended to an even wider group of investigators both on and off campus. Accessibility of our network through the Internet will provide a powerful teaching tool that can be tapped by other less-advantaged institutions with a relatively small investment. This would raise the possibility of developing innovative outreach programs to enrich curricula, e.g., at smaller minority schools that do not have strong research programs. Three major benefits will grow as the network develops: 1. Increased research efficiency and innovation, resulting from multi-user facilities involving investigators with diverse interests and skills, in terms of both applications and techniques; 2. Increased research productivity, resulting from wide dissemination and application of stateof-the-art image acquisition and processing methods; 3. Increased cooperation among scientists and engineers on and off campus in terms of both research and teaching, resulting from the ease of access to visual images display and analysis from electronic information networks. Substantial matching funds have already been raised from a variety of institutional and other non-federal sources, standing ready to be leverage this grant.