ZEISS LSM 510 NLO CONFOCAL/MULTIPHOTON SYSTEM WITH TI

需要资金为南卡罗来纳医科大学(MUSC)的多学科和跨部门用户群体购买新的蔡司LSM 510NLO组合共焦/多光子显微镜。主要用户群包括来自生理学和细胞分子药理学系的3名成员，病理科、妇产科、心脏科和霍林斯癌症中心各1名成员。拟议的主要用户群体包括在共焦显微镜方面拥有丰富经验的强大核心用户，他们都迫切需要共焦显微镜和/或多光子显微镜。总体而言，12个主要用户参与了19个不同的NIH资助的活跃赠款(15个作为主要调查人员)，9个来自其他来源的活跃赠款，以及6个未决的NIH赠款申请。这一建议的主要理由是1)MUSC的共焦显微镜的可用性高度受限和有限，2)MUSC缺乏多光子显微镜能力。购买带有钛宝石激光器的蔡司LSM 510NLO系统将通过在单一组合系统中提供共焦和多光子成像来解决这两个问题。随着MUSC研究基础在调查人员数量方面的扩大，对基于高清晰度激光成像能力的需求大幅增加。这种快速的扩张今天仍在继续，并将超过MUSC有限的成像资源。购买这一最先进的仪器将：(1)为新的研究人员提供一个富有成效的环境：(2)为跨学科和多研究人员的研究倡议提供基础；(3)允许完成现有的NIH资助的项目；以及(4)允许开发新的NIH资助的研究项目。该仪器将设在生理学和神经科学系内，并将作为一个共享的核心设施运行。一个详细的组织计划、大量的机构支持和长期维护计划将确保该工具的持续生存能力和最大限度的利用。

Funds are requested to purchase a new Zeiss LSM 510 NLO combination confocal/multi-photon microscope for a multi-disciplinary and inter-departmental user group at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). The major user group consists of 3 members from the Department of Physiology & of Cell & Molecular Pharmacology, 1 each from the Department of Pathology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cardiology, and the Hollings Cancer Center. The proposed major user group, which includes a strong core of users with extensive experience in confocal microscopy, all have an urgent and critical need for confocal and/or multi-photon microscopy. Collectively, the 12 major users participate in 19 different active, NIH-funded grants (15 as principal investigators), 9 active grants from other sources, and 6 pending NIH grant applications. The major rationale for this proposal is 1) the highly restricted and limited availability of confocal microscopy at MUSC and 2) the lack of multi-photon microscopy capability at MUSC. Purchase of the Zeiss LSM 510 NLO system with a Ti: Sapphire Laser will address both of these problems by providing confocal and multi- photon imaging in a single combination system. Concomitant with the expansion of MUSC's research base in terms of numbers of investigators, there has been a tremendous increase in the need for high definition laser-based imaging capabilities. This rapid expansion is continuing today and will outstrip the limited imaging resources at MUSC. Purchase of this state-of-the-art instrument will: (1) provide a productive environment for new investigators: (2) provide a basis for inter-disciplinary and multi-investigator research initiatives; (3) allow completion of existing NIH funded projects; and (4) allow development of new NIH funded research projects. The instrument will be housed within the Department of Physiology and Neuroscience and will be operated as a shared core facility. A detailed organizational plan, substantial institutional support, and a long-term maintenance plan will ensure sustained viability and maximal use of the instrument.