ZEISS Spinning Disc/LSM700 Point Scanning Confocal Microscope with Incubation Sys

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请申请资金用于购买蔡司旋转盘/LSM 700点扫描共聚焦显微镜组合系统，用于新成立的中佛罗里达大学医学院（UCF）伯内特生物医学科学学院的生物成像核心设施。该系统包括一个集成的蔡司LSM 700激光扫描共聚焦显微镜、一个细胞观察平台和一个CSU-X1旋转盘系统。该仪器允许用户进行活细胞延时成像、3D成像、多重荧光和共定位分析、核定位、发射指纹、DIC、FRAP、FLIP、光激活和光转换实验。LSM 700的独特功能包括可变二次二色分束器、FixGate主分束器、激光寿命延长器和控制数据采集和多参数分析的集成软件。这是一个关键的需要，因为只有一个共同使用的共聚焦显微镜可在UCF和佛罗里达中部地区。它是2000年购买的蔡司LSM 510扫描共聚焦显微镜，是现有生物成像核心中唯一的仪器。这个显微镜支架已经过时，将不支持蔡司服务合同作为2009年9月。此外，目前的系统不具备活细胞成像或核染料（如DAPI）的紫外激发能力。该提案的8个主要用户有12个NIH资助的R01项目（另外2个R01项目将于2009年启动），重点是神经生物学、心血管疾病、传染病和癌症。每个奖项都有需要共聚焦和实时成像的实验。此外，还有4个次要用户有nih资助的项目。购买显微镜系统将有助于维持现有的nih资助的研究项目，并将有助于招募更多优秀的生物医学研究人员。这将有助于该部门实现2003年确定的战略目标，即招募34名新教师，在UCF建立一个资金充足的国家认可的生物医学研究项目。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests funds to purchase a Zeiss Spinning Disc/LSM 700 Point Scanning Confocal Microscope Combination System for the Bioimaging Core Facility of the Burnett School Biomedical Sciences in the newly-formed College of Medicine at University of Central Florida (UCF). The system includes an integrated Zeiss LSM 700 laser scanning confocal microscope, with a cell-observer platform and a CSU-X1 spinning disc system. This instrument allows users to perform live cell time-lapse imaging, 3D imaging, multiple fluorescence and colocalization analyses, nuclear localization, emission fingerprinting, DIC, FRAP, FLIP, photoactivation and photoconversion experiments. The unique capabilities of LSM 700 include variable secondary dichroic beam splitter, FixGate main beam splitter, laser life extender, and integrated software that controls data acquisition and analysis of multiple parameters. There is a critical need for this instrument because there is only one common use confocal microscope available at UCF and in the Central Florida area. It is a Zeiss LSM 510 scanning confocal microscope that was purchased in 2000 and is the sole instrument in the existing Bioimaging Core. This microscope stand has become obsolete and will not be supported by a Zeiss service contract as of September 2009. Furthermore, the current system does not have the capability of live cell imaging or UV excitation of nuclear dyes such as DAPI. The 8 major users of this proposal have 12 NIH funded R01 projects (2 additional R01 will begin in 2009) focused on neurobiology, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, and cancer. Each award has experiments that require confocal and live imaging. In addition, there are 4 minor users who have NIH-funded projects. The purchase of the microscope system will help sustain existing NIH-funded research programs and will help recruit additional outstanding biomedical researchers. This will help the unit fulfill its strategic goal defined in 2003 to recruit 34 new faculty to build a well-funded nationally recognized biomedical research program at UCF.