Multiuser Advanced Confocal Microscope

摘要 此请求是针对Leica SP 8共焦显微镜的，该显微镜将作为多用户 在山居医疗中心的核心设施的仪器。该系统将大大 加强对正在进行VA资助研究的主要用户的研究， 小用户。虽然这种显微镜将主要用于VA资助的研究，仪器 新的调查人员和寻求获得初步调查结果的调查人员也将有时间 提交VA赠款的数据。山居VA医疗中心目前没有 共聚焦显微镜，目前依赖于一个收费的仪器在相邻的 大学虽然显微镜继续被调查人员广泛使用， 参与此应用程序，VA研究人员不是仪器使用的优先级， 使用它的费用很高。在过去的几年里，共聚焦技术取得了巨大的进步。 多年来，我们目前所问的研究问题要求我们采用国家的- 先进的成像技术，这在我们现有的仪器上是无法实现的。我们显然是在 我们目前的收费工具不能满足VA资助的需求 研究人员，多个VA Merit和国防部资助的研究依赖于共聚焦显微镜。 在我们VA的200英里半径内没有其他共焦显微镜可供使用。因此，我们认为， 该应用解决了重要的研究需要。山居退伍军人事务部有一个强大的 机构承诺采购和维护共聚焦显微镜。一个500 平方英尺已经分配了适当配备以容纳仪器的房间。 已作出规定，一旦初始保修期结束， 已过期.成立了一个咨询委员会。博士水平的科学家， 在共聚焦显微镜的经验，将监督设施的协助下， 经验丰富的研究技术人员。这一工具将大大改善研究工作 旨在改善退伍军人的健康状况。

Abstract This request is for a Leica SP8 Confocal Microscope which will function as a multiuser instrument in a core facility at the Mountain Home Medical Center. The system will significantly enhance the research of major users who are conducting VA funded research and multiple minor users. While this microscope will primarily be used for VA funded research, instrument time will also be provided to new investigators and investigators seeking to obtain preliminary data for submission of VA grants. The Mountain Home VA Medical Center currently has no confocal microscope, and currently relies upon a fee-based instrument at the adjacent university. While that microscope continues to be used extensively by the investigators participating in this application, the VA researchers are not a priority for instrument use and the charges for its use are steep. Confocal technology has advanced dramatically in the last several years and the research questions that we are currently asking require that we employ state-of- the-art imaging techniques that are not available on our current instrument. We are clearly at the point where our current fee-based instrument does not meet the needs of VA funded investigators, with multiple VA Merit- and DOD-funded studies relying on confocal microscopy. There are no other confocal microscopes for use within a 200 mile radius of our VA. Therefore, this application addresses a significant research need. The Mountain Home VA has a strong institutional commitment to the acquisition and maintenance of the confocal microscope. A 500 sq. ft. room, that is appropriately outfitted to house the instrument, has been allocated. Provisions have been made to underwrite the service contract once the initial warranty period has expired. An advisory committee has been established. A doctoral level scientist, with experience in confocal microscopy, will supervise the facility with the assistance of an experienced research technician. This instrument will significantly improve the research efforts at Mountain Home VA aimed at improving veterans' health.