A Digitial Confocal Microscope and Image Analysis System for Cell Biology

该合同支持购买数字共焦显微镜和图像分析系统。图像分析系统将允许为常规、共焦和实时视频显微镜的自动和半自动图像捕获定制设计无限制编程例程。共聚焦系统将使用倒置显微镜来对活细胞培养、整个组织支架和固定的载玻片样本进行成像。将共享该仪器的5个主要用户小组在细胞生物学的不同方面进行了研究，包括神经生物学、细胞骨架动力学、细胞-细胞相互作用以及细菌和藻类之间的环境相互作用。共聚焦显微镜已经成为细胞生物学的标准工具。然而，目前在该机构或其附近没有共焦显微镜。因此，对用户研究的影响将是巨大的。此外，从本科生到博士后的所有级别的20多名学生正在进行的项目将直接受益于共焦系统。

This award supports the purchase of a digital confocal microscope and image analysis system. The image analysis system will allow custom-design of unlimited programming routines for automated and semi-automated image capture for conventional, confocal and real-time video microscopy. The confocal system will employ an inverted microscope to accommodate imaging of live cell cultures, whole tissue mounts and fixed, slide-mounted samples. The group of 5 major users who will share the instrument have research programs in diverse aspects of cell biology, including neurobiology, cytoskeletal dynamics, cell-cell interactions, and environment interactions between bacteria and algae. Confocal microscopy has become a standard tool in cell biology. However, there is currently no confocal microscope at or near the institution. Thus the impact on the users' research will be substantial. In addition, over 20 students at all levels from undergraduate to postdoctoral have ongoing projects that will directly benefit from the confocal system.