Leica Stellaris 8 Confocal for Imaging Core

马里兰州大学帕克分校（UMD）要求60万美元购买急需的Leica Stellaris 8 FASt Lifetime CONTRAST激光扫描共聚焦显微镜。14个生命科学的多样化基地 研究人员（其中12人是NIH资助），谁都作出重大和开创性的贡献，交叉， 细胞生物学、分子生物学、神经生物学、发育生物学 生物学、免疫学和宿主-病原体相互作用将立即从变革性成像中受益 工具的能力。对该仪器的需求是巨大的，因为它将取代一台使用了14年的徕卡 SP 5x共聚焦将无法再升级，并将在2022年底失去有保证的服务支持。的 IC目前拥有另外两个共焦系统，一个是13岁的蔡司LSM 710和蔡司LSM 980 Airyscan 2， 但UMD现有的系统无法满足当前SP 5x用户的所有成像需求， 预计主要和次要用户对该提案的未来需求，其中许多用户正在开始新的成像 项目所要求的仪器专门设计用于保持现有SP 5x的功能， 提供新的尖端技术，以加强用户的NIH资助的研究，超越什么是 目前可以通过校园内的任何其他成像系统。Stellaris 8将配备下一个- 一代脉冲白色激光器、多个高效Power HyD检测器和集成荧光 终身成像（FLIM）软件和支持。Stellaris 8将被安置和维护在井中- 建立成像核心（IC），由经验丰富的设施主管管理，所有UMD均可访问 教师，学生和他们的合作者。IC为NIH支持的研究做出了重大贡献， UMD通过提供广泛的成像服务，从样品制备的建议到全面的 仪器培训和图像采集协助。所要求的扫描共聚焦显微镜将 在广泛的研究项目上推进当前的知识，包括宿主-病原体相互作用， 哺乳动物视觉回路中突触连接的分子组成，神经调节的调节 传递，蛋白质运输，细胞间通讯和细胞外RNA的生物学。UMD拥有 为购买仪器和提供业务支持提供了大量配套资金。 此外，部门一级的支持将确保该仪器在服务合同中得到涵盖 在仪器的使用寿命内。

The University of Maryland College Park (UMD) requests $600,000 to purchase a critically-needed Leica Stellaris 8 FALCON (FAst Lifetime CONtrast) laser scanning confocal microscope. A diverse base of 14 Life Science researchers (12 of whom are NIH-funded), who are all making significant and pioneering contributions to cross- disciplinary research at the interface between cell biology, molecular biology neurobiology, developmental biology, immunology, and host-pathogen interactions, will immediately benefit from the transformative imaging capabilities of the instrument. Need for the instrument is great, as it will replace a well-used 14-year-old Leica SP5x confocal that can no longer be upgraded and will lose guaranteed service support at the end of 2022. The IC currently houses two other confocal systems, a 13-year-old Zeiss LSM 710 and a Zeiss LSM 980 Airyscan 2, but the existing systems at UMD cannot accommodate all the imaging needs of the current SP5x users plus the anticipated future needs of the major and minor users on this proposal, many of whom are starting new imaging projects. The requested instrument is specifically designed to maintain the capabilities of the existing SP5x, plus provide new cutting-edge technologies needed to enhance the users’ NIH-funded research beyond what is currently possible via any other imaging system on campus. The Stellaris 8 will be equipped with a next- generation pulsed white light laser, multiple high-efficiency Power HyD detectors, and integrated fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) software and support. The Stellaris 8 will be housed and maintained in the well- established Imaging Core (IC), which is managed by an experienced facility director and is accessible to all UMD faculty, students, and their collaborators. The IC makes significant contributions to NIH-supported research at UMD by providing extensive imaging services ranging from advice on sample preparation to comprehensive instrument training and assistance with image acquisition. The requested scanning confocal microscope will advance current knowledge on a broad range of research projects, including host-pathogen interactions, the molecular composition of synaptic connections in mammalian visual circuits, regulation of neuromodulatory transmitters, protein trafficking, cell-cell communication, and the biology of extracellular RNAs. UMD has dedicated significant matching funds toward the purchase of the instrument and operational support. Furthermore, support at the departmental level will ensure that the instrument is covered under a service contract for the lifetime of the instrument.