LEICA TCS SP SPECTRAL CONFOCAL MICROSCOPE

十名由美国国立卫生研究院资助的南阿拉巴马大学医学院的研究人员正在寻求资金，以获得徕卡显微镜，这是合理的，因为迫切需要取代已经使用了八年的子午线仪器公司的ACAS 570，因为它已经过时了。升级ACAS不是一个可行的选择，因为ACAS不再生产，子午线仪器公司也倒闭了。提出的共聚焦成像系统提供了我们现有仪器所缺乏的几个必要的成像功能，包括：1)更快的图像采集速率，2)同时使用3个激光器，3)提高空间分辨率，以及4)通过分光光度非滤光片检测系统同时监测3个波长的发射光。成像系统将配置在一个徕卡DMR直立支架周围，该支架配备了基于激光的微分干涉对比（DIG）显微镜。照明将由3种激光器提供：氩、氩/氪和氦/氖。徕卡TCS 5P将支持肺部病理生物学、心血管科学、神经科学和癌症/氧化应激领域的初步用户组。预计这一群体将在大约70%的时间内使用该仪器。共聚焦显微镜将被安置在医学研究学院细胞术核心实验室，该实验室由Raymond Hester博士指导。研究细胞术核心实验室的行政监督和运营预算由医学院高级副院长提供。调查人员将为使用徕卡TCS 5P支付象征性的费用。新一代共聚焦显微镜将为美国国立卫生研究院资助的研究人员提供最先进的成像能力，以支持他们的研究。

Ten NIH-funded investigators at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine are seeking funds to obtain Leica microscope is justified on the basis of eminent need to replace an eight year old Meridian Instruments ACAS 570 that is becoming obsolete. Upgrading the ACAS is not a viable option since the ACAS is no longer manufactured and Meridian Instruments is out of business. The proposed confocal imaging system offers several needed imaging capabilities that our existing instrument lacks including: 1) faster image acquisition rates, 2) simultaneous use of 3 lasers, 3) increased spatial resolution, and 4) simultaneous monitoring of 3 wavelengths of emitted light via a spectrophotometric non-filter based detection system. The imaging system will be configured around a Leica DMR upright stand equipped for laser based differential interference contrast (DIG) microscopy. Illumination will be provided by 3 lasers: argon, argon/krypton and helium/neon. The Leica TCS 5P will support an initial user group of investigators in the areas of Lung Pathobiology, Cardiovascular Sciences, Neuroscience and Cancer/Oxidative Stress. It is anticipated that this group will use the instrument approximately 70% of the time. The confocal microscope will be housed in the College of Medicine Research Cytometry Core Laboratory which is under the direction of Dr. Raymond Hester. Administrative oversight and 1he operating budget for the Research Cytometry Core Laboratory are provided by the Senior Associate Dean of the College of Medicine. Investigators will pay a nominal fee for the use of the Leica TCS 5P. The addition of this new generation confocal microscope will provide NIH-funded investigators on our campus with state-of-the-art imaging capabilities to support their research.