MRI-R2: Development of High-Resolution Single Fluorescent Particle Tracker and Nanomanipulator

该奖项是根据2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)提供资金的。这一重大研究仪器-回收和再投资(MRI-R2)奖用于资助密歇根大学(UM)开发两个通用的模块化荧光显微镜平台，用于跟踪和机械探测单分子/粒子，并安装第三个用户友好型显微镜系统，用于用户培训和项目开发。两台开放式单分子跟踪和探测显微镜的开发和应用改变了生物样品高含量筛选的有限能力。设定了基准，使两台仪器在两年内投入使用，并制定了在另外两年内进行测试、进一步优化和扩展的计划，之后将对其进行充电。这些仪器正被密歇根大学社区和其他社区用于研究和教育，吸引了物理和生物科学家以及一名工程师。这一开发活动有助于在生物科学中一个高度跨学科、新兴的变革力量领域建立一个独特的、全国性的单分子分析教育中心(COSIMA)。COSIMA正在与密歇根大学现有的IDEA研究所密切合作，积极向实验者、理论家、本科生和拥有大型本地代表不足群体的高中生以及广大公众进行宣传。在指导委员会和一名高级职员科学家的指导下，建立了一个中央实验室设施，可以使用多个单分子显微镜，以及新兴的单分子生物科学具有广泛的鼓舞人心的号召力，从而推动了这些努力。由新设备实现的研究结果通过学生和教职员工在地区和国家会议上的陈述以及通过在同行评议的期刊上发表来传播。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). This Major Research Instrumentation-Recovery and Reinvestment (MRI-R2) award funds the development of two versatile, modular fluorescence microscopy platforms for tracking and mechanically probing single molecules/particles at the University of Michigan (UM), and the installation of a third, user-friendly microscope system for user training and project development. The development and application of two open-access single molecule tracking and probing microscopes transforms the limited capability for high-content screening of biological samples. Benchmarks are set that make both instruments operational within two years and lay out plans for testing, further optimization and expansion over an additional two years, after which recharges will maintain them. The instruments are being utilized for research and education by the University of Michigan community and beyond, engaging physical and biological scientists as well as an engineer. This development activity helps establish a unique, nation-wide, educational Center of Single Molecule Analysis (CoSiMA) in a highly cross-disciplinary, emerging field of transformative power in the biosciences. CoSiMA is engaging in vigorous outreach efforts to experimentalists, theorists, undergraduates, and high school students with large, local, underrepresented groups, as well as the public at large, in close collaboration with UM's existing IDEA Institute. These efforts are facilitated by the creation of a central laboratory facility with access to multiple single molecule microscopes under guidance of a Steering Committee and a senior staff scientist, as well as by the broad inspirational appeal of the emerging single molecule biosciences. Results from the studies enabled by the new equipment are disseminated by student and faculty presentations at regional and national meetings, and through publication in peer-reviewed journals.