Instrumentation Upgrade for a FEI , T12 Electron Cryo-Microscope

描述（由申请人提供）：要求提供资金用于仪器升级，以便将我们的T12电子显微镜转换为更强大，更高的吞吐量和更有效的仪器，用于低温条件下的数据收集。目前，该电子显微镜已经建立了冷冻成像，但性能不令人满意。高用户需求、所用样品的复杂性以及所用成像方法需要更强大和可重复的样品制备技术以及更好（更快）的真空回收系统。 用户群庞大而多样，代表了伯纳姆医学研究所、斯克里普斯研究所、耶鲁大学、佛蒙特大学、弗吉尼亚大学 医学院，圣裘德儿童研究医院和Stowers医学研究所。这些用户进行的电子冷冻显微镜实验为NCI，NIAID，NHLBI和NIGMS资助的项目提供了关键数据。本提案的B部分重点介绍了主要用户的八个项目，这些项目代表了发育生物学、心脏病学、炎症、血管闭塞、肿瘤血管生成和转移以及传染病方面的疾病导向研究。正如研究所执行副总裁兼首席运营官以及设施和维修主任的信中所述，机构对这一举措的承诺是实质性的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Funding is requested for an instrumentation upgrade that would allow converting our T12 electron microscope into a more robust, higher throughput, and more efficient instrument for data collection under cryo-conditions. At present, this electron microscope is already set up for cryo-imaging but performance is dissatisfying. The high user demands, the complexity of the samples used, and the imaging approaches used require much more robust and reproducible sample preparation techniques and a much better (and faster) vacuum recovery system. The user base is large and diverse, representing the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, The Scripps Research Institute, Yale University, University of Vermont, University of Virginia School of Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Stowers Institute for Medical Research. The electron cryo-microscopy experiments performed by these users provide critical data for projects supported by grants from NCI, NIAID, NHLBI and NIGMS. Eight projects from major users are highlighted in section B of this proposal and represent disease oriented research in developmental biology, cardiology, inflammation, vascular occlusion, tumor angiogenesis and metastasis, and infectious diseases. Institutional commitment to this initiative is substantial as described in the letters from the Institute's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, as well as from the Director of Facilities and Maintenance.