Center for Advanced Renal Microscopic Analysis

奥布莱恩高级肾脏显微镜分析中心将提供应用结构和功能成像技术所需的资源和专业知识，以进一步了解肾脏生理学、疾病过程及其作为区域、国家和国际核心设施的治疗。这将通过提供用于小动物（小鼠和大鼠）和固定组织的最先进的活体成像系统来实现。这些成像方法将包括印第安纳州大学开发的新策略和技术、印第安纳州大学开发的荧光双光子优化探针以及北卡罗来纳州大学设计和验证的独特肾细胞特异性分子递送系统的组合。设施将提供给我们校园的生命科学家，以及NIDDK或其他受资助的研究肾脏或泌尿系统过程的研究人员，包括：六个激光扫描共聚焦和四个双光子显微镜，一个低光级epifluorescence系统和广泛的活体动物手术和成像设施。为了支持这些资源的利用，包括显微镜学家，计算机工程师，生理学家，医生，细胞和分子生物学家在内的基础科学家组成了一个协同团队。他们将继续作为一个综合小组，协助和培训调查人员开发新的成像技术应用方法和软件。其他研究活动将包括开发信号处理算法，以最大限度地提高图像质量和信息含量，以及开发定量三维体积分析算法。最后，将继续提供教育服务，包括图像讲习班、非常成功的奥布莱恩研究员试点和可行性方案，并将最大限度地扩大传播范围。这些研究开发和支持活动预计将提供许多机会，影响对肾脏生理学，疾病过程和治疗干预的理解。

The O'Brien Center for Advanced Renal Microscopic Analysis will provide the resources and expertise necessary to apply structural and functional imaging technologies to further the understanding of renal physiology, disease processes and their therapy as a Regional, National and International Core facility. This will be accomplished by providing state of the art intravital imaging systems for use in small animals (mice and rats) and fixed tissues. These imaging approaches will include a combination of novel strategies and techniques developed at Indiana University, fluorescent 2-photon optimized probes developed at Indiana University and unique kidney cell specific molecular delivery systems designed and validated at the University of North Carolina. Facilities that will be available to the life scientists on our campus, and to NIDDK or other funded investigators studying kidney or urologic processes include: six laser-scanning confocal and four two-photon microscopes, a low light level epifluorescence system and extensive facilities for live animal surgery and imaging. To support utilization of these resources a cadre of basic scientists including microscopists, computer engineers, physiologists, physicians, and cell and molecular biologists have been assembled into a synergistic team. They will continue to function as an integrated team to assist and train investigators in the development of new approaches and software for application to imaging techniques. Additional research activities will include the development of signal processing algorithms to maximize image quality and information content, and the development of quantitative 3-dimensional volumeanalysis algorithms. Finally, an educational service including imaging workshops, a highly successful O'Brien Fellows pilot and feasibility program will be continued and dissemination excursions will be maximized. These research development and support activities are expected to provide numerous opportunities to impact the understanding of renal physiology, disease processes and therapeutic interventions.