Cell and Tissue Microscopy Core

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ABSTRACT The Cell and Tissue Microscopy Core (CTMC) will support the DC-IDDRC researchers in their work that relies on the use of high-resolution optical and electron microscopic approaches to study cells and tissues. CTMC will offer access to state-of-the-art microscopy imaging and analytical tools to support research focused on pediatric diseases with an emphasis on neurodevelopmental disorders, fetal and neonatal brain injury and genetic diseases. CTMC will extend its services to researchers at Children’s National Hospital, George Washington University, Georgetown University and Howard University. Among these users, there is a growing need for tools that enable imaging at greater spatial and temporal resolution while also allowing functional imaging and deep as well as large area imaging. To support these needs CTMC continues to expand its services including widefield, confocal, live and multiphoton microscopy with optogenetic manipulation, light sheet microscopy, super resolution, correlative light and EM as well as large field 3D-EM. With these developments the core will continue to meet and also expand its mission to enable structural and functional imaging from nanoscale to organismal scale that are aimed at understanding and treating defects leading to IDDs. The core will also help develop and implement quantitative analytical approaches for image visualization and data analysis. The core will also participate in collaborative IDD-relevant projects that heavily rely on the use of newer technologies. A significant mission of the core will be to train next generation of researchers in the use of advanced microscopy approaches through offering hands on training, educational workshops organized by the core in collaboration with other companies and researches in the greater DC region. CTMC will also collaborate with other DC-IDDRC cores including the Human and Animal Imaging Core, Neurobehavioral Core and Genomics and Bioinformatics Core to serve projects with cross disciplinary needs. Through above endeavors CTMC aims to continue leveraging technological developments in microscopy to enable conception, design, and implementation of these developments to tackle challenges in the field of IDD research and further the mission of DC-IDDRC.