Nikon A1 Confocal Microscope

描述(由申请人提供)：本申请用于购买尼康A1共聚焦显微镜，这是一种激光行扫描共聚焦显微镜系统，用于支持和增强心脏研究所内用户组的成像能力。新的仪器将使用户群体能够以现有仪器目前无法达到的分辨率水平为他们所有由NIH资助的研究进行最先进的成像。它还将为用户群体提供新的功能；随着他们探索他们的人类心血管疾病疾病模型的表型，这些能力对他们来说已经变得至关重要。这些新功能包括：用于DIC、FRAP/光激活研究的同步和顺序4通道检测加上1个透射光检测通道；具有易于使用的预编程和定制编程光学采集模式的完全电动共聚焦显微镜；可与尼康完美的对焦系统配合使用进行长期时间推移实验的多点采集扫描；以及大型图像拼接。该仪器将实现重要成像，在获取动态过程(如侵袭体形成和细胞内运输)期间自动聚焦，对钙通量进行成像，并能够使用更多范围的荧光标记。这一工具的拟议使用将支持和加强NIH资助的现有项目，并提供研究支持的途径，从而为未来的项目带来新的资金。NIH支持的该设备的五名用户将组成核心研究团队，并讨论了该仪器为他们的研究活动增加的价值。所有这些人目前都在心脏研究所内部互动，是现有设备的主要用户。使用已经到位的设备，已确定的项目是无法维持的。该小组的研究兴趣广泛，但都涉及分析基于老鼠和细胞的人类心血管疾病模型，在这些模型中探索因果关系。这一切都依赖于在亚细胞水平上准确成像分子的能力。PI在心脏研究领域活跃了约23年，将负责管理监督。他将向一个由辛辛那提儿童医院不同科室的科学家组成的内部顾问委员会汇报工作。这些设备将被安置在辛辛那提儿童医院研究基金会的新研究大楼里。这个45万平方英尺。英国《金融时报》该设施于2008年启用，为仪器的运行提供最先进的支持和基础设施。心脏研究所已经为共焦分析留出了一个专门的研究套间，并将容纳这台仪器：这个空间由一个450平方英尺的房间组成，配备了特殊的气流。仪器将由PI和一名博士级别的设施工作人员科学家操作和维护。这些人员总共拥有超过45年的成像经验，确保及时提供服务。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application is for the purchase of the Nikon A1 confocal microscope, a laser line scanning confocal microscope system to support and augment the imaging capabilities of the user group within the Heart Institute. The new instrumentation will enable the user group to carry out state of the art imaging for all of their NIH-funded investigations at a level of resolution that is not currently possible with the existing instrument. It will also provide new capabilities to the user group; capabilities that have become critical to the group as they explore the phenotypes of their disease models of human cardiovascular disease. These new capabilities include: simultaneous and sequential 4 channel detection plus 1 transmitted light detection channel for DIC, FRAP/ photoactivation studies, a completely motorized confocal microscope with preprogrammed and custom programmed optical acquisition modes for ease of use, multipoint acquisition scanning that can be used in conjunction with Nikon's Perfect Focus System for long-term time lapse experiments, and large image stitching. The instrument will enable vital imaging, automatic focus during acquisition of dynamic processes such as aggresome formation and intracellular trafficking, imaging of calcium flux and the ability to use an increased range of fluorescent tags. Proposed use of this instrumentation will support and enhance existing NIH-funded projects and provide avenues of research support that will lead to new funding for future projects. Five NIH-supported users of this equipment will form the core research team and the value added to their research activities by this instrumentation is discussed. All of these individuals currently interact within the Heart Institute and are the principal users of the existing equipment. The identified projects are untenable using the equipment already in place. The group's research interests cover a wide spectrum but all deal with analyzing mouse and cell-based models of human cardiovascular disease in which cause-and-effect relationships are explored. All depend upon the ability to accurately image molecules at the subcellular level. The PI, who has been active in the field of heart research for ~23 years, will be responsible for the managerial oversight. He will report to an internal advisory board composed of scientists from various Cincinnati Children's Hospital departments and divisions. The equipment will be housed in the new research building at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation. This 450,000 sq. ft. facility opened in 2008 and provides state of the art support and infrastructure for the instrument's operation. A dedicated research suite is already set aside for confocal analyses within the Heart Institute and will house this instrument: the space consists of a 450 sq ft room equipped with special airflow. The instrumentation will be operated and maintained by the PI and a Ph.D.-level facility staff scientist. Together these personnel have over 45 years of imaging experience, ensuring that the services will be provided in a timely manner.