InForm image segmentation image analysis software and Vectra automation system

描述(由申请人提供)：这份共享仪器助学金计划的重点是收购VectraTM和InFormTM自动图像分析系统，以支持贝勒医学院丹·L·邓肯癌症中心的项目。这种显微镜、照相机和软件系统允许对载玻片(最多200个)或组织阵列进行自动化和定量成像。摄像机和软件允许对荧光和可见光范围的颜色进行分段量化，从而允许在每个细胞或每个组织野的基础上对多个颜色标记进行定量分析。软件是可培训的，以实现最大的灵活性。该仪器的初步使用将极大地有利于前列腺癌、U54肿瘤微环境项目、U01人类癌症联盟小鼠模型项目和两个R01项目中的孢子。该仪器将提供给前列腺癌研究计划以外的癌症中心成员和贝勒医学院的其他教职员工。这个共享仪器项目的直接目标是利用该仪器的多种模式，使用大组织阵列或载玻片样本在细胞水平上提供可靠和自动化的多个生物标记物的定量图像分析。使用任何其他方法都不能准确和合理地获得这种定量数据。我们相信，该仪器将提供从根本上革命性的生物标记物研究的数据。丹·L·邓肯癌症中心的广泛目标之一是通过涉及预后指标和新治疗方法的新发现提供更好的癌症护理。这种仪器系统将被许多研究人员用于几个不同的项目，每个项目都在评估原发癌细胞和肿瘤微环境中癌症进展的生物标记物。研究团队多年来一直合作，在生物标记物研究和定义肿瘤微环境方面有着良好的出版物记录。所请求的仪器是最先进的，将允许获取否则不可能的数据。我们完全期待这些数据将向新的方向扩展癌症和肿瘤微环境研究领域，并将演变为关键发现，这些发现将转化为对疾病过程的更清晰理解、更好的预后和更好的医疗保健服务。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Shared Instrumentation Grant proposal is focused on the acquisition of the VectraTM and inFormTM automated image analysis system to support projects in the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine. This microscope, camera and software system permits automated and quantitative imaging of either slide sets (up to 200) or tissue arrays. Camera and software permits segment quantitation of both fluorescent and visible light range colors that allows for quantitative analysis of multiple color markers on a per cell or per tissue field basis. Software is trainable to allow for maximum flexibility. Initial use of this instrumentation will greatly benefit the SPORE in Prostate Cancer, the U54 Tumor Microenvironment Project, the U01 Mouse Models of Human Cancer Consortium Project and two R01 projects. The instrumentation will be available to Cancer Center members outside the Prostate Research Program and other faculty at Baylor College of Medicine. The immediate objectives of this Shared Instrumentation project is to utilize the multiple modalities of this instrument to provide reliable and automated quantitative image analysis of multiple biomarkers at the cellular level using large tissue arrays or slide samples. This quantitative data cannot be accurately and reasonably acquired using any other methodology. We believe that this instrument will provide data that will essentially revolutionize biomarker research. One of the broad objectives of the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center is to provide better cancer care through new discovery that involves both prognostic indicators and new therapeutic approaches. This instrumentation system will be used by many investigators on several different projects that are each evaluating biomarkers for cancer progression in both the primary cancer cells and in the tumor microenvironment. The team of investigators has collaborated for many years with an excellent track record of publications in biomarker research and defining the tumor microenvironment. The requested instrumentation is state of the art and will permit the acquisition of data that would not otherwise be possible. We fully anticipate this data will extend the field of cancer and tumor microenvironment research in new directions and will evolve into key findings that will translate to more clear understandings of disease processes, better prognostics, and improved health care delivery.