Confocal laserscanning microscope

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We are applying for a confocal microscope for the CECAD Imaging Facility at the University of Cologne since the available confocal microscopes are used to capacity and an old confocal microsocpe needs to be replaced. We are aiming for a fast and sensitive instrument best suited for live cell and live tissue imaging due to low phototoxicity during image acquisition. An incubation system as well as a hardware autofocus are important. In addition, the possibility to navigate within big tissue sections and a good tile-scanning function is wished for. Some of our main users are in need for a resolution for their experiments that exceeds the resoltuion a standard confocal can offer. Here, we favor a technique that goes beyond the technique of closing the pinhole to avoid drastic signal reduction and allow experiments of living and sensitive samples. In addition, two single-photon sensitive and time-resolved detectors are asked for to allow FCCS and scanning FCCS, a technique that is urgently needed but so far still missing at the Cologne campus.The microscopes of the core platform are not restricted to be used by the CECAD cluster of excellence but the whole University of Colgone and the Uniclinics Cologne as well as neighboring institutes. Last year, the facility was used by more than 300 researchers from 100 working groups on a regular basis for their research projects. As a centrally used platform it is essential to keep the instruments state-of-the-art and offer sufficient capacities to cover the growing demand for imaging. Only this will allow us to further support the scientists with our expertise and infrastructure in the best way possible and allow them to compete on an international level in their imaging research. Therefor we urgently need the confocal microscope we apply for.