A high-performance slide scanner to support multiple research programs

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We request funds for a configurable microscope slide scanner system that combines brightfield, fluorescence, and polarization options to provide high-throughput whole slide scanning capabilities to our microscope imaging facility at the University of Toronto Mississauga. A microscope located on campus (in the Martin lab) can scan whole microscope slides; however, this device has a one slide capacity and provides an insufficient workflow. This microscope is also constantly occupied by the Martin lab, making it inaccessible to other researchers. Currently, Dr. Martin's graduate students work in shifts, often past midnight, to have enough time to scan their slides using this microscope. They have expressed serious concerns about their ability to conduct their work, and some have already suffered significant delays. Inefficient workflow and lack of alternative options is not a short-term problem, and Dr. Martin's research will continue to rely centrally on microscope slide scanning. The co-applicants (Liu and Resulaj) also need frequent access to a dedicated slide scanning system, improving their workflow and alleviating the strain on their trainees. In addition, many users at the University of Toronto Mississauga require slide scanning as part of their research program, but our central imaging facility currently lacks a dedicated system. Incorporating a slide scanning system into our microscope imaging facility is expected to improve workflow across multiple investigators and provide a pay-per-use option for investigators (internal and external) not included on the main application. The slide scanning system will be pivotal for the success of our NSERC-funded research programs that aim to understand the molecular and genetic determinants of behaviour. The slide scanning system is necessary to modernize our imaging capabilities, meet our trainees' growing needs, and maximize our research efficiency and originality. The requested equipment will be housed within the Imaging facility at the University of Toronto Mississauga and maintained by a senior research technician. The University of Toronto Mississauga has recently gone through a growth phase with multiple investigators requiring automated slide scanning capabilities for their research programs. An abundance of projects currently depends on microscopy, imaging, and cellular analysis, and it is expected that the proposed equipment will directly support the training of 25-30 students/trainees annually.