Optimizing technical approaches of endoscopic confocal fluorescence microscopic (ECFM) combined with smart probing for small animal studies of the lung

我们的研究旨在开发工具，以优化使用小动物，如大鼠，在一种新的成像方法的背景下，称为基于探针的共聚焦显微内镜（pCLE）。pCLE包括在受试者体内插入一个小的成像导管，使用各种光线使其器官可视化。虽然这种方法已经可以用于人类，但临床研究和大型动物研究非常昂贵。因此，开发适当的工具来用这种新的成像方法进行小动物实验将使我们能够释放其全部潜力。

Our research aims at developing tools to optimize the use of small animals, such as rats, in the context of a new imaging method named probe-based confocal endomicroscopy (pCLE). pCLE consists of inserting a small imaging conduit inside a subject to visualize its organs, using various kinds of light. While this method can already be used in humans, clinical studies and studies in large animals are very expensive. Hence, developing appropriate tools to conduct small animal experiments with this new imaging method will allow us to unlock its full potential.