Modernising the Electron Microscopy capabilities at the University of Glasgow

格拉斯哥大学的医学、兽医和生命科学学院拥有世界领先的研究，是人类健康相关研究的主要中心，从基础科学到纳米医学，再到病原体和感染研究。为了保持这种高质量的环境，学院最近创建了一个综合成像设施，以改善位于吉尔莫希尔校区的各种成像系统（包括光学和电子显微镜）的管理和培训。最新的设施将有助于不断取得成功的产出，同时为研究人员提供由经验丰富的技术人员支持的世界一流设备。我们寻求资金更换一台使用了35年的透射电子显微镜，这将有助于改善和扩大该设施的成像能力。目前几个跨越MRC战略计划范围的项目正处于需要技术的阶段，而现有设备无法满足这些技术。我们在电子显微镜方面的能力的升级确保了该设施提供更好的服务。在本提案中，我们强调了一些项目（由早期职业研究人员到中期职业和全职教授领导），这些项目将受益于所要求的最新TEM，从感染和免疫研究到分子和细胞医学，再到神经科学和人口医学和全球健康。现代化的TEM还允许该设施通过显微镜使用方面的培训和支持，继续培养具有特定专业知识的新一代熟练研究人员。新设备的直接科学成果也将为格拉斯哥科学界带来长期利益，为进一步的项目投标提供激励，并促进研究团队之间的合作。这对早期职业研究人员尤其有价值，因为它将通过增加关键实验技术来支持他们的项目，而不需要事先进行大量投资。它还将有助于创造一个高质量的培训和研究环境，促进国际合作和招聘，从而使更广泛的苏格兰社区受益。这样的环境也将有利于研究学生提供有价值的培训和扩大他们未来的职业选择。鉴于这些优势，学院致力确保设施得到最佳管理，并为技术人员提供资源，以维修设备和支持用户进行实验。所要求的设备将是新成像设施的核心，将其纳入学院战略，并为现有和未来项目的多个用户提供支持。

The College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences at the University in Glasgow hosts world-leading research and is a major hub for studies relevant to human health, ranging from fundamental science to nanomedicine, through pathogen and infection research. To maintain this high-quality environment, the College has recently created an integrated Imaging Facility, improving management of and training on diverse imaging systems (both light and electron microscope based) located at the Gilmorehill campus. An up-to-date facility will contribute to the continuous successful outputs, while providing researchers with access to world-class equipment supported by experienced technologists. We seek funds to replace a 35 years of use transmission electron microscope, which will allow to improve and expand the imaging capacities in the facility. Several current projects that span the remit of MRC strategic plans are at a stage requiring techniques that cannot be fulfilled by the current instrumentation available at the facility. The upgrade of our capabilities in electron microscopy ensures that the facility offers substantially better services.In this proposal we have highlighted some projects (led by Early Careers Researchers to mid-careers and full Professors) that would benefit from the requested up-to-date TEM, spanning from studies of infection and immunity to molecular and cellular medicine, through neuroscience and population medicine and global health. A modern TEM would also allow the facility to continue to train new generations of skilled researchers with specific expertise, through training and support in the use of the microscope.The immediate scientific outcomes from the new equipment will also have long-term benefits for the Glasgow scientific community, providing incentives for further project bids and fostering cooperation between research teams. This will be particularly valuable for early career researchers, as it will support their projects by additions of key experimental techniques without the need of a prior large investment. It will also contribute to create a high-quality training and research environment, facilitating international collaborations and recruitment and, as such, benefiting the wider Scottish community. Such an environment will also benefit research students by providing access to valuable training and expanding their career options in the future. In view of these advantages, the College is committed to ensuring that the facility is optimally managed and that resources are provided for technical staff to maintain the equipment and support the users in their experiments. The equipment requested will be central for the new imaging facility, to incorporate it in the College strategy and support multiple users with the existing and future projects.