Electron microscopy camera to study essential cellular processes and nanomaterials development.

此应用程序要求最新一代CMOS（互补金属氧化物半导体）相机为我们的Tecnai精神透射电子显微镜。该显微镜集成在麦吉尔的电子显微镜研究设施（FEMR）中，这是加拿大最大和最具创新性的电子显微镜平台，支持270多个研究项目（约50% NSERC资助）和约750名高素质人员（HQP）。本提案的申请人将使用该相机收集高分辨率图像，以支持其nserc资助的研究项目。Ortega（主要申请者）将使用这种新照相机来描述细菌中翻译起始机制的替代方案。这是细菌的基本生物学过程，在生物技术和生物工程中具有实际意义。guarn<s:1>（共同申请人）是麦吉尔大学加拿大研究主席（tier 1），她的项目研究DNA修复机制。Kakkar（共同申请者）要求该相机设计用于生物分离、疾病评估和治疗的纳米材料。这些有成就的研究人员在过去六年中在高影响力期刊（科学，自然通讯，自然结构和分子生物学等）上发表了100多篇论文，并获得了NSERC， CIHR， NIH， CFI和魁北克省（FRQNT）的竞争性基金。考虑到来自加拿大东部的其他潜在用户通过电子显微镜研究设施访问相机，所要求的相机将用于自然科学和工程几乎所有方面的调查。新相机将取代已有14年历史的Gatan US4000 CCD相机，该相机已不再由供应商生产或提供服务。它经常发生故障，导致停机时间延长，严重延误了HQP的研究项目和完成时间（博士和硕士）。推迟购买新相机将导致这些研究人员在与使用现代相机的竞争对手的竞争中失去优势。新要求的相机将大大提高所采集数据的质量和分辨率。它的电影模式允许漂移补偿。这对带有侧入口支架的显微镜特别有益，例如我们的Tecnai Spirit，相机将安装在那里。新相机还将允许HQP的特殊培训。在申请者的实验室里，大约有20名HQP将接受新相机的实际操作培训。然而，对HQP培训的影响将更广泛，因为该系统将被纳入FEMR，并受益于来自约30个实验室的约150名HQP培训。这台相机将在培养下一代成像科学家方面发挥核心作用。与FEMR的工作人员一起，我们的实验室将为HQP开发电子显微镜和数据分析技能提供环境，这些技能目前受到开发疫苗和纳米药物输送设备的生物制药公司的高度追捧。

This application requests a latest-generation CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) camera for our Tecnai Spirit transmission electron microscope. This microscope is integrated within the Facility for Electron Microscopy Research (FEMR) at McGill, Canada's largest and most innovative electron microscopy platform that supports over 270 research programs (~50% NSERC funded) and ~750 Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP). Applicants in this proposal will use this camera to collect high-resolution images to support their NSERC-funded research programs. Ortega (principal applicant) will use this new camera to describe alternative translation initiation mechanisms in bacteria. This is a fundamental biological process in bacteria with practical implications in biotechnology and bioengineering. Guarné (co-applicant) is a Canada Research Chair (tier 1) at McGill, and her program studies DNA repair mechanisms. Kakkar (co-applicant) requires this camera to design nanomaterials for bio-separation, disease evaluation and theranostics. These accomplished researchers have published over 100 publications in the last six years in high-impact journals (Science, Nature Communications, Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, etc.) and secured competitive funds from NSERC, CIHR, NIH, CFI and the province of Quebec (FRQNT). Considering other potential users from all over Eastern Canada accessing the camera through the Facility for Electron Microscopy Research, the requested camera will serve investigations into virtually all aspects of Natural Sciences and Engineering. The new camera will replace an existing 14-year-old Gatan US4000 CCD camera, which is no longer produced or serviced by the vendor. It frequently breaks, leading to extended downtimes that impose significant delays in the research programs and completion time (PhD and MSc) for HQP. Delaying the acquisition of a new camera will cause these researchers to lose ground with their competitors working with modern cameras. The new requested camera will significantly enhance the quality and resolution of the acquired data. Its movie mode allows for drift compensation. This is especially beneficial on microscopes with a side entry holder, such as our Tecnai Spirit, where the camera will be installed. The new camera will also allow exceptional training of HQP. About 20 HQP in the applicants' laboratories will be hands-on trained on the new camera. However, the impact on HQP training will be broader since the system will be incorporated into FEMR and benefit the training of ~150 HQP from ~30 laboratories. This camera will play a central role in training the next generation of imaging scientists. Together with the staff at FEMR, our laboratories provide the context where HQP will develop electron microscopy and data analysis skills, which are presently highly sought after by biopharmaceutical companies developing vaccines and nanodevices for drug delivery.