Acquisition of a Confocal Microscope for Research and Research Training

该奖项为购买激光扫描共聚焦显微镜和用于组织制备的自动旋转切片机提供支持。共聚焦成像系统将位于一个新装修和扩建的生物成像设施，它将用于教师和学生的研究和教学。研究用途包括一组项目，这些项目都需要组织内细胞和分子的高分辨率三维定位。这些项目包括以下研究：两栖动物胚胎中淋巴心脏成肌细胞的迁移;果蝇中一种类似于人类退化性脑疾病脊髓小脑共济失调3型（SC 3）的综合征的发展和起源;微管运动蛋白驱动蛋白与细胞内货物结合的调节;可增强怀孕和哺乳大鼠认知能力的新脑神经细胞的形成;萤火虫体内氧气流向发光酶的调节。 自动化切片机将取代一个过时的40岁的仪器。 除了用于教师和学生的研究，显微镜将在现有的显微解剖学，发育生物学，比较解剖学，神经科学原理和神经生物学课程。该显微镜有望加强心理学和生物学系之间的教师和学生研究合作，并加强神经科学的集中，这需要学生进行一年的独立研究。该仪器也将被兰多夫梅肯学院的学生和教职员工使用。 一名经验丰富的显微镜技术人员将指导成像设施，维护共聚焦显微镜和其他成像设备，培训新用户，并协助教师和学生开展研究。

This award provides support for the purchase a laser scanning confocal microscope and an automated rotary microtome for tissue preparation. The confocal imaging system will be located in a newly renovated and expanded biological imaging facility where it will be used for faculty and student research and for instruction. Research uses include a group of projects that all require high-resolution 3 dimensional localization of cells and molecules within tissues. These projects include studies of the following: the migration of lymphatic heart myoblasts in amphibian embryos; the progression and origin of a syndrome in drosophila that resembles the human degenerative brain disease spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SC3); the regulation of binding of the microtubule motor protein kinesin to intracellular cargoes; the formation of new brain nerve cells that may enhance cognitive ability of pregnant and nursing rats; the regulation of the flow of oxygen to light-making enzymes in fireflies. The automated microtome will replace an obsolete 40-year old instrument. In addition to use in faculty and student research, the microscope will be employed in existing Microanatomy, Developmental Biology, Comparative Anatomy, Principles of Neuroscience, and Neurobiology courses. The microscope is expected to enhance faculty and student research collaborations between psychology and biology departments and strengthen a neuroscience concentration which requires students to perform a year of independent research. The instrument will also be used by students and faculty at Randolph Macon College. An experienced microscopy technician will direct the imaging facility, maintain the confocal microscope and other imaging equipment, train new users, and assist faculty and students in carrying out their research.