Center for Cellular Metabolism Research in Oklahoma

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Altered cellular metabolism contributes to the pathogenesis of many common diseases that are prevalent in Oklahoma. This Center for Cellular Metabolism Research in Oklahoma (CMRO) Phase I COBRE aims to create and nurture excellence in cellular metabolism in Oklahoma. Two of the current CMRO COBRE Research Project Leaders (RPLs) (Drs. Lee and Cleuren) and two of our graduating RPLs (Drs. Yu and Zhao) use confocal microscopy for their research programs. Additionally, five CMRO COBRE mentors (Drs. Xia, Griffin, Olson, Srinivasan, and Kovats) routinely use confocal microscope for their research. A Nikon C2+ confocal microscope that was purchased in 2017 to support eight investigators at the Cardiovascular Biology Research Program of OMRF is currently used by thirteen investigators, nine of whom are associated with COBRE (69.2%). The RPLs and their mentors are the heaviest users of the C2+ confocal and have relied on this equipment to produce top-notch images for their research at no cost. However, the C2+ confocal is starting to show evidence of aging and overuse in the form of increasing numbers of service calls and down time. Furthermore, the newer confocal microscopes have many technical capabilities that are not available in the C2+ confocal. For example, the Nikon AXR microscope is capable of scanning 2X larger area of the sample at 16X higher resolution and 2X higher sensitivity to the signal. The AXR can also acquire images at a much faster speed, which is ideal for larger samples and live imaging. Additionally, the AXR is capable of deconvoluting the acquired images and improving the resolution even further. This supplement requests partial support for a new Nikon AXR confocal microscope. OMRF will provide 50% of the total cost for the equipment. The requested equipment will reduce the demand on the C2+ confocal, supporting our COBRE RPLs in building their competitive research programs and transitioning to independence.