MRI: Acquisition of a Confocal Microscopy System for Research and Education

这个主要研究仪器（MRI）奖资助国家的最先进的共聚焦显微镜的收购，以加强在布法罗大学（UB）的研究和教育。 这种多功能仪器满足了布法罗北校区大学的不同跨学科用户群的需求，在那里缺乏共聚焦成像。 用户包括生物科学，物理，化学和生物工程部门的教师。 研究范围从细胞和核组织，发育生物学，神经生物学，干细胞，组织工程，植物生物学和分子进化，在生物体范围从动物，植物，真菌，线虫，昆虫和节肢动物。 有些用户需要基本的共焦应用程序，而另一些则需要高级功能。 满足这些不同需求的仪器是一台电动倒置尼康A1 R共聚焦显微镜，它结合了精确点和超快共振扫描，以及尼康独有的完美对焦。 环境室将使长期活细胞成像成为可能。 一套完整的激光器允许成像的全范围的荧光分子，FRET，和光活化GFP。 集成的Becker-Hickl FLIM模块允许FLIM FRET，独特的Fiorium超连续谱SC 400激光器通过覆盖整个400 nm至2000 nm光谱最大限度地提高了多功能性。 该显微镜将面向各种科学学科的教师、博士后和学生，并将成为新课程和研讨会的核心组成部分。 此外，主要研究人员将与布法罗大学的外展计划合作，向我们的学术人群中代表性不足的群体宣传相关课程，培训，研讨会和研讨会的可访问性，提供否则无法获得的研究和教育工具。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award funds the acquisition of a state-of-the-art confocal microscope to enhance research and education at the University at Buffalo (UB). This multifunctional instrument meets the needs of a diverse interdisciplinary user group on the University of Buffalo North Campus, where accessibility to confocal imaging is lacking. Users include faculty within Departments of Biological Sciences, Physics, and Chemical and Biological Engineering. Research ranges from cell and nuclear organization, developmental biology, neurobiology, stem cells, tissue engineering, plant biology, and molecular evolution, in organisms ranging from animals, plants, fungi, nematodes, insects, and arthropods. Some users require basic confocal applications, while others require advanced features. The instrument that meets these diverse needs is a motorized inverted Nikon A1R Confocal Microscope, which combines precision point and ultra-fast resonant scanning, together with Nikon's exclusive Perfect Focus. An environmental chamber will enable long-term live cell imaging. A complete set of lasers allows imaging of a full range of fluorescent molecules, FRET, and photo-activatible GFP. An integrated Becker-Hickl FLIM module allows for FLIM FRET, and a unique Fianium supercontinuum SC400 laser maximizes versatility by covering the entire 400 nm to 2000 nm spectrum. This microscope will be accessible to faculty, postdocs, and students in a variety of scientific disciplines, and will be a central component of new courses and workshops. Additionally, the primary investigators will work with University of Buffalo-based outreach programs to promulgate accessibility of associated courses, training, seminars, and workshops to underrepresented groups within our academic populations, providing research and education tools that would otherwise be unavailable.