Imaging Core

摘要 这个核心的目标是帮助研究人员使用最先进的3D组织分析和体视学技术。这个核心是分子神经生物学核心的逻辑发展，但现在可以在3-D中对组织中的细胞和分子标记进行量化和分析。LSUHSC-NCE承诺继续利用、建造、装备和配备成像核心设施，配备最先进的共焦和立体显微镜和计算机，供NCE和周围生物医学社区的研究人员使用。它提供技术和人员来协助研究人员准备、包埋、切片、标记和增强组织样本的对比度。同样有了这项技术，我们可以通过重建三维光学或物理切片上的物体来创建三维图像，将这些数据存档，并使用最先进的显微镜和体视学软件对它们进行量化。这一核心将极大地帮助新聘用的NCE Pi启动他们的研究计划，以及LSUHSC、杜兰和泽维尔不同部门的其他研究人员，他们需要最先进的成像和体视学，但没有资源或经验。此核心将通过映像交互以及其他R01、P50和T32拨款申请实现更大的协作。这一设施将极大地支持LSUHSC和大新奥尔良地区的研究社区。从第4年开始，我们将逐步过渡到按服务收费的设施，以便在可持续发展计划期间结束时，这一核心将完全自我维持和独立。该核心的三个具体目标是：1)聘请和培训一名博士级别的科学家来管理这个核心，并提供一个研究生级别的研讨会，题目是：“体视学和共焦显微镜的原理和实践”；2)使研究人员能够使用新的奥林巴斯VS110显微镜和Visiopharm立体学软件进行立体定量和全幻灯片扫描；以及3)操作核心以实现科布雷第三阶段项目目标，并在设计和实施3-D共焦成像的整个过程中为研究人员及其项目提供帮助。

Abstract The goal of this core is to assist investigators with state-of-the-art technologies for 3-D tissue analysis and stereology. This core is the logical progression of the Molecular Neurobiology core, but now allows quantitation and analysis of cellular and molecular markers in tissue in 3-D. The LSUHSC-NCE has made a commitment to continue to capitalize, build, equip, and staff an Imaging Core Facility with state-of-the-art confocal and stereology microscopes and computers that can be used by the NCE and researchers from the surrounding biomedical community. It provides the technology and personnel to assist researchers in the preparation, embedding, sectioning, labeling, and contrast enhancement of tissue samples. Also with this technology, we can create 3-D images by reconstructing objects from optical or physical sections in 3-dimensions, archive this data, and quantitate them with state-of-the art microscopy and stereology software. This core will be of great help to newly hired NCE PI's as they initiate their research programs, and other researchers in different departments at LSUHSC, Tulane, and Xavier who need state-of-the-art imaging and stereology but don't have the resources or experience. This core will enable greater collaborations through imaging interactions, and additional R01, P50, and T32 grant applications. This facility will greatly sustain both the research community at LSUHSC and the greater New Orleans area. Starting in year 4, we will gradually transition to a fee-for-service facility so that by the end of the Sustainability Plan period this core would be fully self sustaining and independent. The three specific aims of this core are to: 1) hire and train a PhD level scientist to run this core and provide a graduate level seminar entitled: "Principles and Practice of Stereology and Confocal Microscopy"; 2) enable researchers to implement stereologic quantitation and whole-slide scanning using the new Olympus VS110 microscope and Visiopharm stereology software; and 3) operate the core to actualize COBRE Phase III project goals, and provide assistance to researchers and their projects throughout the process of design and implementation of 3-D confocal imaging.