Request for a Nikon A1 confocal microscope

 描述（由申请人提供）：此请求是为购买基本的单光子尼康A1共聚焦显微镜与两个GaSP探测器的资金。该仪器将存放在匹兹堡大学医学院的生物成像中心（CBI）内。该核心设施的任务是为匹兹堡大学医学院的所有研究小组提供全方位的光和电子光学，图像分析和形态测量方法。 共聚焦显微镜是该中心提供的一项基本服务，目前该设施内的核心使用共聚焦显微镜是4年。旧Nikon A1R、两台Olympus FV1000（8年和10年）和一台14年的Olympus fluoview 500，该应用程序的主要原因只有一个：为NIH支持的生物成像中心用户提供急需的仪器时间。 自22年前开始运作以来，CBI已成为医学研究界不可或缺的一部分，目前参与医疗领域内300多个PHS资助团体的研究项目，以及PHS支持的其他部门和邻近机构的研究人员项目。 机构内PHS资助的用户群继续扩大，并且缺乏可用的共聚焦时间已成为该中心实用性的主要限制因素，这导致用户相当大的挫折感。一个基本的单光子共聚焦显微镜的收购将是一个巨大的除了该中心的活动和功能，并将有助于减轻目前的用户瓶颈单光子共聚焦显微镜。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This request is for funds to purchase a basic single photon Nikon A1 confocal microscope with two GaSP detectors. This instrument will be housed within the Center for Biologic Imaging (CBI) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The mandate of this core facility is to provide access to a full range of light and electron optica, image analysis, and morphometric methods to all research groups within the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Confocal microscopy is an essential service provided by the center, the current core use confocal microscopes within the facility are a 4 yr. old Nikon A1R, two Olympus FV1000's (8 and 10 years old) and a 14 year old Olympus fluoview 500, There is a single prime reason for this application: to provide critically needed instrument time to the NIH supported users of the Center for Biologic Imaging. Since the CBI commenced operations 22 years ago, it has become an integral part of the medical research community currently participating in research projects with more than 300 PHS funded groups within the medical area, as well as in PHS supported projects with investigators in other departments and at neighboring institutions. The PHS funded user base within the institution continues to expand, and a lack of available confocal time has become a major limiting factor in the utility of the center, this leads to considerable frustration amongst users. The acquisition of a basic single photon confocal microscope will be a tremendous addition to the activity and functionality of the center and will help alleviate the current user bottle neck for single photon confocal microscopy.