MRI: Acquisition of A Multiphoton Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope for Life Science and Biomedical Research and Training at SUNY Binghamton

该计划旨在获得一台蔡司LSM 880 NOL 3通道多光子共聚焦激光扫描显微镜，以升级SUNY宾厄姆顿大学（BU）已有8年历史的徕卡SP 5单光子共聚焦显微镜，该显微镜已帮助BU教师成功开发了一流的研究项目。现有的显微镜最初配置用于薄组织样品和微生物成像。随着波士顿大学在神经科学、干细胞和再生医学、3D组织生物打印、纳米医学等领域的研究项目的扩大，学校迫切需要一台更先进的多光子共聚焦显微镜来进行活细胞成像。LSM880 NOL是一种双光子共聚焦显微镜，能够进行亚细胞成像。使用这种最先进的显微镜将推动波士顿大学最近的健康科学计划，提高生物医学工程、生物科学、化学、心理学系和新成立的药学院的教师研究能力。它还将帮助校园里更多的个人获得初步结果，以寻求NSF和NIH的资助。这个项目的结果将对我们对细胞和蛋白质在体内动态行为的基本理解产生更广泛的影响。本项目在单细胞和单分子水平上研究活细胞、组织和小动物的细胞生物学、基因调控、神经元放电和组织再生/重塑等未满足的需求。此外，它的收购将促进波士顿大学与工业界的合作，加速将生命科学和生物医学工程发现转化为生物产品。一个全面的管理计划将确保仪器始终在高峰和近高峰容量运行。来自波士顿大学和参与该项目的研究人员的强有力的财务和管理承诺将在项目结束后维持该设施。该计划旨在获得一台蔡司LSM 880 NOL 3通道多光子共聚焦激光扫描显微镜，以升级SUNY宾厄姆顿大学（BU）已有8年历史的徕卡SP 5单光子共聚焦显微镜，该显微镜已帮助BU教师成功开发了一流的研究项目。LSM880 NOL是双光子共聚焦显微镜。它的脉冲超快红外激光只在焦点处激发荧光染料或蛋白质，在那里光子密度高到足以产生荧光。红色激发光穿透组织更深，接近1毫米。它可以分辨140 nm横向和400 nm轴向在488 nm，允许亚细胞成像。研究兴趣的广度，加上目前参与该项目的研究人员的资金，迫切需要在BU购买显微镜。这种先进的多光子显微镜的获得将立即影响到三所学校六个系的17个研究实验室。一旦系统在校园建立起来，将会有更多的实验室受到影响。参与本项目的研究人员均获得NSF、NIH等机构的资助，并有与显微镜直接相关的研究项目。该仪器的收购不仅使他们能够与校园，州和国家的研究人员开发更多的合作项目，而且还将使教师能够追求新的研究方向，并为波士顿大学的研究和学术项目的发展做出巨大贡献。它将使研究人员能够研究细胞-细胞和细胞-细胞外基质之间的相互作用；跟踪细胞迁移、分化和增殖；研究伤口愈合、器官移植和组织再生/重塑过程中的细胞募集；并测量活细胞、组织、3D打印类器官或小动物内的扩散、受体/配体相互作用等生化反应。从这些研究中获得的知识将大大促进生物科学和生物工程。显微镜的获得将推动和加速这些进步。它将通过向校园、州和全国的所有研究人员和学生开放的多用户成像设备，显著增强波士顿大学在生命科学和生物医学工程方面的研究基础设施。此外，它将为现代生物学和生物工程教学提供强大的资源。将开设一门新的实验课程，重点是活细胞和组织的多光子显微镜，并提供给本科生和研究生。将举办讲习班和开放日活动，培训和吸引新用户使用显微镜，并向K-12和当地社区，特别是那些代表性不足的群体伸出援助之手。它将为REU的暑期学生提供额外的研究培训机会。最后，它将成为吸引顶尖教师到大学的优秀招聘工具。

This proposal seeks to acquire a Zeiss LSM 880 NOL 3-channel multiphoton confocal laser scanning microscope to upgrade SUNY Binghamton University's (BU) eight-year-old Leica SP 5 single photon confocal microscope that has helped BU faculty to successfully develop top-ranked research programs. The existing microscope was originally configured for thin tissue sample and microorganism imaging. With the expansion of BU research programs in neuroscience, stem cell and regenerative medicine, 3D tissue bioprinting, nanomedicine, etc., the University is in urgent need of a more advanced multiphoton confocal microscope for live cell imaging. LSM880 NOL is a two photon confocal microscope capable of subcellular imaging. Access to this state-of-the-art microscope will propel BU's recent Health Science Initiative, boost faculty research capabilities in Biomedical Engineering, Biological Science, Chemistry, and Psychology Departments and the newly-formed Pharmacy School. It will also help more individuals on campus obtain preliminary results to seek for NSF and NIH funding. The outcome of this project would have a broader impact on our fundamental understanding of how cell and protein behave dynamically in vivo. This project address unmet needs to study cell biology, gene regulation, neuron firing, and tissue regeneration/remodeling in live cells, tissues, and small animals at single cell and single molecule level. Furthermore, its acquisition will foster BU's collaboration with industries to accelerate the translation of life science and biomedical engineering discoveries into bioproducts. A comprehensive management plan will ensure that the instrument always runs at peak and near peak capacity. The strong financial and management commitment from BU and the researchers involved in this project will sustain the facility after the project period.This proposal seeks to acquire a Zeiss LSM 880 NOL 3-channel multiphoton confocal laser scanning microscope to upgrade SUNY Binghamton University's (BU) eight-year-old Leica SP 5 single photon confocal microscope that has helped BU faculty to successfully develop top-ranked research programs. LSM880 NOL is a two photon confocal microscope. Its pulsed, ultrafast infrared laser excites fluorescent dyes or proteins only at the focal point, where photon density is high enough to produce fluorescence. The red excitation light penetrates much deeper into tissue close to 1 mm. It can resolve 140 nm laterally and 400 nm axially at 488 nm, allowing for subcellular imaging. The breadth of research interests, coupled with the current funding of investigators involved in this project poses urgent need for the acquisition of the microscope at BU. The acquisition of this advanced multiphoton microscope will immediately affect more than 17 research labs across six Departments in three schools. More labs will be impacted once the system is set up on campus. The investigators involved in this project are well funded by NSF, NIH, etc. and have research projects that are directly related to the microscope. The acquisition of the instrument will not only permit them to develop more collaborative projects with researchers across the campus, state and nation, but it will also allow faculty to pursue new directions of research and contribute greatly to the growth of BU's research and academic programs. It will enable investigators to study interaction between cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix; to track cell migration, differentiation, and proliferation; to investigate cell recruitment during wound healing, organ transplantation and tissue regeneration/remodeling; and to measure biochemical reactions such as diffusion, receptors/ligand interaction within live cells, tissues, 3D printed organoids or small animals. Knowledge gained from these studies will significantly advance both bioscience and bioengineering. The acquisition of the microscope will propel and accelerate these advances. It will remarkably enhance BU's research infrastructure in life science and biomedical engineering by providing a multiuser imaging facility that is open to all investigators and students across the campus, state, and nation. Furthermore, it will provide a powerful resource for teaching modern biology and bioengineering. A new lab course focusing on live cell and tissue multiphoton microscopy will be developed and offer to both undergraduate and graduate students. Workshops and open house will be held to train and attract new users to access to the microscope and to reach out to K-12 and local communities, especially those from underrepresented groups. It will offer additional research training opportunities for summer REU students. Finally, it will serve as an excellent recruiting tool for attracting top-notch faculty to the university.