MRI: Acquisition of Dual-Probe Near Field Scanning Optical Microscope for Dynamic Molecular Mapping of Cytoskeletal Force Generation

我们的目标是获得双探针近场扫描光学显微镜，通过三个学术部门的pi之间的密切合作，以不同的专业知识解决这一科学问题，从而实现基于细胞骨架蛋白的力产生的基础研究。提出了两个将从DP-NSOM的能力中显著受益的具体研究项目。DP-NSOM的收购将直接促成麻省理工学院和怀特黑德研究所三个学术部门之间的实质性合作。此次收购还将大大增强两个初级教师的实验能力，他们的研究小组分别将工程原理应用于细胞和分子力学的研究。此外，这个DP-NSOM将成为这些和其他研究人员之间拟议的跨部门合作的重要实验组成部分，重点是细胞骨架力学的分析和计算建模。此次收购也将大大有助于麻省理工学院在跨学科教育方面的举措。除了研究生和博士后的研究训练，麻省理工学院的教育工作将包括新的研究生和本科生水平的实验室模块。

0521122VanVlietThe objective is to acquire a dual probe-near field scanning optical microscope to enable fundamental investigations of cytoskeletal protein-based force generation through close collaboration among PIs in three academic departments who address this scientific issue with distinct expertise. Two specific research projects, which will benefit significantly from the capabilities of the DP-NSOM, are presented. Acquisition of the DP-NSOM will directly enable substantive collaborations among three academic departments at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Whitehead Institute. This acquisition will also provide significantly enhanced experimental capabilities to two junior faculty whose research groups each apply engineering principles to the study of cellular and molecular mechanics. Further, this DP-NSOM will be a vital experimental component of proposed cross-departmental collaborations among these and additional investigators, focusing on analytical and computational modeling of cytoskeletal mechanics. This acquisition will also significantly contribute to MIT's initiatives in cross-disciplinary education. In addition to research training of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, educational efforts within MIT will include new graduate- and undergraduate-level laboratory modules.