-MRI-Acquisition of a Spectral Confocal Microscope for Research and Training in Biology

-MRI-获取光谱共焦显微镜用于生物学研究和培训

• 批准号: 0521116
• 负责人: Mary Lee Ledbetter
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: College of the Holy Cross
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-08-15 至 2008-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0521116&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; Spectral; Confocal; Microscope

A grant has been awarded to the College of the Holy Cross under the direction of Dr. Mary Lee Ledbetter for partial support of acquisition of a spectral confocal microscope for research and training in biology. Such instruments are increasingly used to analyze in fine detail the distribution of fluorescent molecules in very specific regions of cells. Together with specific fluorescently labeled probe molecules, the instrument will be used by members of the Biology Department in their research and teaching. Undergraduate students will also be able to use it, and that training will constitute a vital part of their research experience. The addition of confocal microscopy will significantly enhance the research and training infrastructure in microscopy. Each member of the team will integrate the confocal microscope into his or her research program. Various projects include studies of interactions between proteins found in the membranes bounding mammalian cells, mechanisms by which frogs regulate their circadian (day/night) cycles, studies of the production and proper localization within mammalian cells of proteins that ultimately form communicating channels (gap junctions) in membranes where a cell touches its neighbors, studies of the influences that control the shapes of surface structures in insect larvae, and detailed morphological analysis of developmental processes in beetles. Each faculty member will involve undergraduate students pursuing independent research projects. These projects often result in presentations at national meetings and co-authored publications in peer reviewed journals. Thus the educational benefit to the student far transcends technical proficiency, extending to full participation in the planning and execution of experiments, and dissemination of the results of their investigations. The project offers an unparalleled opportunity for the team to advance research at the cutting edge of biology while contributing to the direct education of research students. In addition the microscope will be used as the centerpiece of educational outreach to both Holy Cross students and the wider community. Demonstrations and short-term projects will be possible for students in several intermediate courses in biology. Non-majors fulfilling their general education requirements will have a chance to see this state-of-the-art instrument in action. Faculty and their students from one of the eight other colleges and universities in the Worcester Consortium have been invited to use the instrument to enhance their research and training activities. And we plan to invite students from local public high schools to come to campus several times a year for a program, "Imaging Life," that will include demonstration of the confocal microscope. These broader efforts will help to attract and retain students in the study of the life sciences and offer the local community a stake in the scientific enterprise.

在玛丽·李·莱德贝特 (Mary Lee Ledbetter) 博士的指导下，圣十字学院获得了一笔赠款，用于部分支持购买光谱共聚焦显微镜，用于生物学研究和培训。此类仪器越来越多地用于详细分析细胞特定区域中荧光分子的分布。该仪器与特定的荧光标记探针分子一起，将供生物系成员在研究和教学中使用。本科生也将能够使用它，并且培训将构成他们研究经验的重要组成部分。共焦显微镜的加入将显着增强显微镜的研究和培训基础设施。团队的每个成员都会将共焦显微镜集成到他或她的研究计划中。各种项目包括研究哺乳动物细胞膜中发现的蛋白质之间的相互作用、青蛙调节昼夜节律（昼/夜）周期的机制、研究哺乳动物细胞内蛋白质的产生和正确定位，这些蛋白质最终在细胞接触其邻居的膜中形成沟通通道（间隙连接）、研究控制昆虫幼虫表面结构形状的影响， 以及甲虫发育过程的详细形态学分析。每位教职员工将让本科生参与独立研究项目。这些项目通常会在全国会议上进行演示，并在同行评审期刊上共同撰写出版物。因此，对学生的教育益处远远超出了技术熟练程度，延伸到充分参与实验的规划和执行以及研究结果的传播。该项目为团队提供了无与伦比的机会，以推进生物学前沿的研究，同时为研究生的直接教育做出贡献。此外，该显微镜将用作向圣十字学生和更广泛的社区进行教育推广的核心。学生可以参加一些生物学中级课程的演示和短期项目。满足普通教育要求的非专业人士将有机会看到这种最先进的工具的实际应用。伍斯特联盟其他八所学院和大学之一的教师和学生已被邀请使用该仪器来加强他们的研究和培训活动。我们计划每年多次邀请当地公立高中的学生来校园参加“成像生活”项目，其中包括共聚焦显微镜的演示。这些更广泛的努力将有助于吸引和留住生命科学研究的学生，并为当地社区提供科学事业的股份。