Electron microscopy camera to study essential cellular processes and nanomaterials development.

这一应用要求为我们的Tecnai SPIRIT透射电子显微镜配备最新一代的互补金属氧化物半导体(CMOS)相机。该显微镜集成在McGill的电子显微镜研究设施(FEMR)中，这是加拿大最大和最具创新性的电子显微镜平台，支持270多个研究项目(约50%由NSERC资助)和约750名高素质人员(HQP)。这项计划的申请者将使用这种相机来收集高分辨率的图像，以支持他们由NSERC资助的研究项目。Ortega(主要申请者)将使用这种新相机来描述细菌中的替代翻译启动机制。这是细菌中的一个基本生物学过程，在生物技术和生物工程中具有实际意义。Guarné(共同申请者)是McGill的加拿大研究教席(一级)，她的项目研究DNA修复机制。Kakkar(共同申请者)要求这台相机设计用于生物分离、疾病评估和治疗的纳米材料。这些有成就的研究人员在过去六年中在影响较大的期刊(《科学》、《自然通讯》、《自然结构和分子生物学》等)上发表了100多篇论文。并从NSERC、CIHR、NIH、CFI和魁北克省(FRQNT)获得竞争资金。考虑到来自加拿大东部各地的其他潜在用户通过电子显微镜研究设施访问该相机，所请求的相机将服务于对自然科学和工程学几乎所有方面的调查。新相机将取代现有的已有14年历史的Gatan US4000 CCD相机，后者不再由供应商生产或维修。它经常中断，导致停机时间延长，导致HQP的研究计划和完成时间(博士和硕士)显著延迟。推迟购买新相机将导致这些研究人员在研究现代相机的竞争对手面前失利。新要求的相机将大大提高采集数据的质量和分辨率。它的电影模式允许漂移补偿。这对于带有侧口支架的显微镜尤其有利，例如我们的Tecnai SPIRIT将在那里安装相机。新的摄像头还将允许对HQP进行特殊培训。申请者实验室中的大约20名HQP将接受关于新相机的实践培训。然而，对HQP培训的影响将更广泛，因为该系统将被纳入FEMR，并受益于来自约30个实验室的约150名HQP的培训。这款相机将在培养下一代成像科学家方面发挥核心作用。我们的实验室与FEMR的工作人员一起，为HQP开发电子显微镜和数据分析技能提供了背景，这些技能目前正受到开发用于药物输送的疫苗和纳米设备的生物制药公司的高度追捧。

This application requests a latest-generation CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) camera for our Tecnai Spirit transmission electron microscope. This microscope is integrated within the Facility for Electron Microscopy Research (FEMR) at McGill, Canada's largest and most innovative electron microscopy platform that supports over 270 research programs (~50% NSERC funded) and ~750 Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP). Applicants in this proposal will use this camera to collect high-resolution images to support their NSERC-funded research programs. Ortega (principal applicant) will use this new camera to describe alternative translation initiation mechanisms in bacteria. This is a fundamental biological process in bacteria with practical implications in biotechnology and bioengineering. Guarné (co-applicant) is a Canada Research Chair (tier 1) at McGill, and her program studies DNA repair mechanisms. Kakkar (co-applicant) requires this camera to design nanomaterials for bio-separation, disease evaluation and theranostics. These accomplished researchers have published over 100 publications in the last six years in high-impact journals (Science, Nature Communications, Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, etc.) and secured competitive funds from NSERC, CIHR, NIH, CFI and the province of Quebec (FRQNT). Considering other potential users from all over Eastern Canada accessing the camera through the Facility for Electron Microscopy Research, the requested camera will serve investigations into virtually all aspects of Natural Sciences and Engineering. The new camera will replace an existing 14-year-old Gatan US4000 CCD camera, which is no longer produced or serviced by the vendor. It frequently breaks, leading to extended downtimes that impose significant delays in the research programs and completion time (PhD and MSc) for HQP. Delaying the acquisition of a new camera will cause these researchers to lose ground with their competitors working with modern cameras. The new requested camera will significantly enhance the quality and resolution of the acquired data. Its movie mode allows for drift compensation. This is especially beneficial on microscopes with a side entry holder, such as our Tecnai Spirit, where the camera will be installed. The new camera will also allow exceptional training of HQP. About 20 HQP in the applicants' laboratories will be hands-on trained on the new camera. However, the impact on HQP training will be broader since the system will be incorporated into FEMR and benefit the training of ~150 HQP from ~30 laboratories. This camera will play a central role in training the next generation of imaging scientists. Together with the staff at FEMR, our laboratories provide the context where HQP will develop electron microscopy and data analysis skills, which are presently highly sought after by biopharmaceutical companies developing vaccines and nanodevices for drug delivery.