ZEISS AXIOVERT 200 AUTOMATED 4-D CELL OBSERVER SYSTEM

描述（由申请人提供）：自动化机器人、高分辨率数字成像和图像去卷积软件的最新进展现在允许实时记录活细胞和组织中的动态过程。为了利用这一进展，我们组建了一个由高级、中级和初级研究人员组成的小组，他们希望将这一新兴技术应用于他们的NIH资助的研究项目。这六位约翰霍普金斯大学的教职员工共同担任10项不同NIH赠款的主要调查员，其中包括9项R 01赠款和1项T32培训补助金，这些补助金共同构成了51年来累积的不间断NIH资助。这些研究项目由六个Jdifferent NIH研究所资助，反映了广泛的研究领域，包括上皮和造血干细胞生物学，发育生物学，发育神经生物学，巨噬细胞功能和肿瘤生物学。为了将真实的时间成像的最新进展应用于这些项目，研究人员寻求购买一个完全集成的最先进的成像系统，该系统包括Zeiss Axiovert-200 M电动倒置荧光显微镜、Zeiss AxioCam高分辨率数码相机、用于维持活细胞和组织外植体的温度/湿度/ CO2控制的载物台室、和具有3D图像反卷积功能的精密蔡司Axioversion软件。总之，这种细胞观察系统允许在长时间内使用多个荧光通道以高分辨率观察动态细胞过程，从而产生关于活组织中集成生物过程的新观点。本提案概述了使用这一先进成像系统的科学合理性，并进一步描述了现有的机构支持以及旨在促进最佳利用这一共享仪器的行政和实验室资源。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Recent advances in automated robotics, high-resolution digital imaging and image deconvolution software now allow real-time documentation of dynamic processes in living cells and tissues. To take advantage of this progress, we have assembled an accomplished group of senior, mid-career, and junior investigators who wish to apply this emerging technology to their NIH-funded research projects. Together, these six Johns Hopkins faculty members serve as principle investigators on ten different NIH grants including nine R01 grants and one T32 training grant, together accounting for 51 years of cumulative uninterrupted NIH funding. These research projects are funded by six Jdifferent NIH institutes, reflecting a a wide array of research areas, including epithelial and hematopoietic stem cell biology, development biology, developmental neurobiology, macrophage function, and tumor biology. In order to apply recent advances in real time imaging to these projects, the investigators seek to purchase a fully integrated state-of-the-art imaging system comprised of a Zeiss Axiovert-200M motorized inverted fluorescent microscope, a Zeiss AxioCam high-resolution digital camera, a temperature / humidity / CO2-controlled stage chamber for maintenance of viable cell and tissue explants, and sophisticated Zeiss Axioversion software with 3D image deconvolution capability. Together, this Cell Observer System allows dynamic cellular processes to be observed at high resolution using multiple fluorescent channels over extended periods of time, generating new perspectives regarding integrated biologic processes in living tissues. This proposal outlines the scientific rational for use of this sophisticated imaging system, and further describes available institutional support as well as administrative and laboratory resources designed to promote optimal use of this shared instrumentation.