Purchase of confocal microscope

描述（由申请人提供）：激光扫描共聚焦显微镜已成为生物医学中不可或缺的工具，由强大的新显微镜系统和广泛的特异性荧光探针的出现驱动。目前，国家的最先进的共聚焦显微镜是需要国家卫生研究院资助的项目在Downstate医疗中心。我们建议获得徕卡TCS SP 5激光扫描共聚焦系统，以取代现有的伯乐共聚焦显微镜，目前保持蔡司成像。蔡司将停止BioRad生产线，2009年10月后将不再提供服务。所要求的徕卡显微镜将是唯一的共聚焦系统不仅在该机构，而且在布鲁克林。因此，新的采购将是我们设施的重要组成部分。BioRad显微镜每周使用36-40小时，并使用医学院提供的资源进行维护。我们确定Leica TCS SP 5将提供快速扫描速率、高分辨率、高灵敏度，以减少光负载和对细胞的损伤，并能够微调激发和发射通道，以帮助同时采集七个主要NIH资助项目所需的多个荧光通道。以及本提案中概述的小型项目。 被确定为主要用户的研究人员在这项补助金已被选定为他们目前和未来的要求，先进的共聚焦成像，NIH的资金，以及潜在的好处，从收购高端共聚焦，以取代正在停产的仪器。Leica SP 5共聚焦显微镜将保存在位于SUNY Downstate Medical Center解剖学和细胞生物学系的Cell Imaging Core设施中。这个设施现在安置了Bio-Rad显微镜。该设施有两名全职工作人员，包括主任（博士），和一名显微镜技术员工作人员的唯一责任是维护仪器，开发新的成像和图像处理技术，并培训用户。 我们的教师的研究兴趣包括细胞生物学和生理学和神经科学内的广泛学科。重点是脂质代谢、视觉研究、信号转导、细胞周期调控、高血压、癌症和糖尿病等方面的基础研究。细胞成像是我们的教师用来开展他们的各种研究项目的重要工具。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Laser-scanning confocal microscopy has become an indispensable tool in biomedicine, driven by the advent of powerful new microscope systems and of wide range of specific fluorescent probes. Currently, state-of-the art confocal microscopy is required for NIH- funded projects at Downstate Medical Center. We propose to acquire a Leica TCS SP5 laser scanning confocal system to replace the existing Bio-Rad confocal microscope, currently maintained by Zeiss imaging. Zeiss is discontinuing the BioRad line and will not provide service after October 2009. The requested Leica microscope will be the only confocal system not only in the Institution but also in Brooklyn. Therefore, the new purchase will be a vital component of our facility. The BioRad microscope is used 36-40 hours per week and has been maintained using resources provided by the School of Medicine. We determined that a Leica TCS SP5 would provide the fast scan rates, high resolution, high sensitivity to reduce light load and damage to cells, and ability to fine tune excitation and emission channels to aid in simultaneous acquisition of multiple fluorescence channels needed for seven major NIH-funded projects as well as minor projects, outlined in this proposal. The investigators identified as Major Users in this grant have been selected for their current and future requirement for advanced confocal imaging, significant degree of NIH funding, and potential benefit from acquisition a high-end confocal to replace an instrument that is being discontinued. The Leica SP5 confocal microscope will be maintained at the Cell Imaging Core facility located in the Dept of Anatomy and Cell Biology of SUNY-Downstate Medical Center. This facility now houses the Bio-Rad microscope. The facility has two full-time staff including the director (Ph.D.), and a microscopy technician. The sole responsibility of the staff is to maintain the instruments, develop new imaging and image processing techniques, and train users. The research interests of our faculty encompass a broad range of subjects within cell biology and physiology and neuroscience. The focus is on fundamental research in lipid metabolism, vision research, signal transduction, regulation of cell cycle, hypertension, cancer and diabetes. Cellular imaging is an essential tool used by our faculty to carry out their diverse research projects.