Biological Facilities Center for Research and Development ofElectro-optical Microscopic Imaging Instrumentation

本提案要求为光电显微成像仪器研究和发展的生物设施中心提供资金。目标是提供系统的光电显微成像定量技术的发明和发展，并通过分子细胞生物学的合作研究促进这些新的物理仪器功能的应用。通过适当的光电显微图像采集、弱分子荧光的光子计数定量、计算机三维数字图像处理和存储以及时空变换分析，可以揭示和测量活细胞中重要过程的分子动力学。细胞生物物理过程的跨学科合作研究将在这些设施中进行，以提供细胞生物学研究，并将仪器开发的重点放在可被其他实验室采用的实用研究技术上。目标是在灵敏度、速度、空间分辨率和定量方面进行优化，以便在分子水平上最好地研究活细胞的动态过程。研究者在生物物理方法的开发和应用方面有良好的成就记录。这个成像中心的建立将直接使康奈尔大学和更广泛的社区的大量用户社区受益。

This proposal requests funds for a Biological Facilities Center for Research and Development of Electro-Optical Microscopic Imaging Instrumentation. The objective is to provide for the systematic invention and development of electro-optical microscopic imaging quantitation technologies and to facilitate the application of these new physical instrumentation capabilities through collaborative research in molecular cell biology. The molecular dynamics of vital processes in living cells can be revealed and measured with the help of appropriate electro-optical microscopic image acquisition, photon counting quantitation of weak molecular fluorescence, and computerized 3D digital image processing and storage with spatial and temporal transform analysis. Collaborative interdisciplinary research on cellular biophysical processes is to be accommodated in the facilities both to provide for cell biology research and to focus the instrumentation developments on practicable research techniques that can be adapted by other laboratories. The goal is to generate developments that optimize the trade off of sensitivity, speed, spatial resolution, and quantitation needed to study best, at the molecular level, the dynamical processes in living cells. The investigator has a proven record of accomplishment in the development and application of biophysical methods. Establishment of this imaging center will directly benefit a substantial user community both at Cornell and within the wider community.