Electron Microscope for a Multi-User Core Facility

用于多用户核心设施的电子显微镜

• 批准号: 8447296
• 负责人: BENJAMIN S GLICK
• 金额: $ 58.78万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-06-15 至 2014-06-14
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8447296
• 关键词: Asthma; Authorization documentation; Biocompatible Materials; Biological; Biological Sciences; Businesses; Cellular biology; Chicago; Complex; Core Facility; Data Set; Diabetes Mellitus; Electron Microscope; Electron Microscopy; Electron Microscopy Facility; Ensure; Funding; Hour; Housing; Image; Microbiology; Microscope; Microtomy; Request for Proposals; Research; Research Personnel; Resolution; Resources; Sampling; Science; Scientist; Thick; Time; Training; United States National Institutes of Health; Universities; Vacuum; electron tomography; instrument; meetings; physical science; programs; transmission process; voltage

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests funds to purchase a Tecnai Spirit 120-kV electron microscope for high-contrast and high-throughput routine imaging. The new instrument will be housed in the multi-disciplinary Electron Microscopy (EM) Facility. This core facility currently houses an intermediate-voltage 300-kV FEI Tecnai F30 transmission electron microscope, which is well suited to physical science applications and to electron tomography. However, for the routine needs of biomedical researchers in the Biological Sciences Division, the F30 is far from optimal for the following reasons. (1) Although the high accelerating voltage makes the F30 suitable for high-resolution structural analysis and for analyzing thick sections, the contrast is less than ideal for traditional thin-section EM of biological material. (2) The F30 operates with a high vacuum, and requires 3-5 minutes of down time between each change of samples. When multiple samples are being examined, the cumulative delay becomes substantial. (3) The F30 is a very complex and delicate instrument, and authorization to use the F30 requires an extensive 8- to 10-hr training session. As a result, many investigators either rely on assistance from facility experts during regular business hours, or forgo EM analysis entirely. (4) The F30 is occupied for long periods by physical scientists, and by biologists who are collecting tomographic data sets. Therefore, access for routine imaging is often difficult. Acquisition of the Tecnai Spirit will overcome these limitations. This instrument is ideally suited to high-contrast imaging of biological thin sections. Sample exchange can be performed rapidly, enabling high-throughput analyses. The Tecnai Spirit is relatively simple and robust, and researchers can be readily trained to operate this instrument themselves. Availability of a high-quality microscope for routine EM of biological samples will particularly benefit NIH-funded research programs. The Biological Sciences Division at University of Chicago employs many investigators who use EM. Research topics range from basic cell biology and microbiology to studies of diabetes and asthma. The Division invests major resources in establishing and maintaining core facilities that support cutting-edge science. Acquisition of the Tecnai Spirit will help to ensure that the Electron Microscopy Facility meets this standard. This instrument will be managed by an accomplished and knowledgeable staff, and will be accessible to a broad range of researchers.

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案要求资金购买Tecnai Spirit 120 kV电子显微镜，用于高对比度和高通量常规成像。新仪器将安装在多学科电子显微镜（EM）设施中。该核心设施目前拥有一台中压300 kV FEI Tecnai F30透射电子显微镜，非常适合物理科学应用和电子断层扫描。然而，对于生物科学部生物医学研究人员的日常需求，F30远不是最佳选择，原因如下。(1)尽管F30的高加速电压使其适用于高分辨率结构分析和厚切片分析，但其对比度对于传统的生物材料薄切片EM来说并不理想。(2)F30在高真空条件下运行，每次更换样品之间需要3-5分钟的停机时间。当检查多个样本时，累积延迟变得很大。(3)F30是一种非常复杂和精密的仪器，授权使用F30需要8到10小时的广泛培训课程。因此，许多调查人员要么在正常工作时间依赖设施专家的帮助，要么完全放弃EM分析。(4)F30长期被物理学家和收集断层数据集的生物学家占用。因此，常规成像通常很难获得。 收购Tecnai Spirit将克服这些限制。这 该仪器非常适合于生物薄切片的高对比度成像。样品交换可以快速进行，从而实现高通量分析。Tecnai Spirit相对简单而强大，研究人员可以很容易地接受培训，自己操作这台仪器。用于生物样品常规EM的高质量显微镜的可用性将特别有利于NIH资助的研究项目。 芝加哥大学的生物科学部雇佣了许多使用EM的研究人员。研究课题从基础细胞生物学和微生物学到糖尿病和哮喘的研究。该司投入大量资源建立和维护支持尖端科学的核心设施。收购Tecnai Spirit将有助于确保电子显微镜设施符合这一标准。该工具将由一个有成就和知识渊博的工作人员管理，并将提供给广泛的研究人员。