Prairie Technologies 2-Photon Microscope

描述(申请人提供)：多光子激发(MPE)显微镜已成为研究完整大脑回路中神经元结构和功能的强大光学工具。亚利桑那州立大学最近将神经科学作为一项重要的研究举措，创建了一个跨学科的神经科学项目，同时聘请了几名新的教职员工，他们在神经科学研究中使用光学方法。然而，目前还没有MPE显微镜来对散射组织中的神经元结构和功能进行光学研究。我们开发了由几个NIH资助的研究人员组成的设备赠款，以确保购买MPE显微镜的资金。收购这一设备将使这项提案中的调查人员在继续获得NIH资金方面变得更具竞争力，并促进几名尚未获得NIH资金但正在进行申请和审查过程的初级调查人员的成长。此外，MPE显微镜赋予的能力将允许亚利桑那州立大学的神经科学研究人员继续使用现代光学方法进行尖端研究。公共卫生相关性：我们建议在亚利桑那州立大学购买一台多光子共聚焦显微镜，作为一种多用户设备。这种类型的高端显微镜自15年前推出以来，已经彻底改变了神经科学研究应用中的成像技术。因此，该系统将增强亚利桑那州立大学由NIH资助的一大批生物医学研究人员的研究能力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Multiphoton excitation (MPE) microscopy has become a powerful optical tool in investigating neuronal structure and function in intact brain circuits. Arizona State University has recently made neuroscience a major research initiative in creating an interdisciplinary neuroscience program while hiring several new faculty members, who implement optical methods in their neuroscience research. Currently however, there are no MPE microscopes for conducting optical studies of neuronal structure and function in scattering tissues. We have developed this equipment grant composed of several NIH funded investigators in order to secure funds to purchase a MPE microscope. The acquisition of this equipment will permit the investigators in this proposal to become more competitive in continuing to secure NIH funding, as well as foster the growth of a couple junior investigators who have not yet secured NIH funding, but are undergoing the application and review processes. Further, the capabilities conferred by MPE microscopy will permit neuroscience investigators at ASU to continue conducting cutting-edge research using modern optical approaches. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: We propose to purchase a multiphoton confocal microscope as a multi-user piece of equipment at Arizona State University. This type of high-end microscopy has revolutionized imaging in Neuroscience research applications since it was introduced over 15 years ago. This system will therefore augment the research capabilities of a large group of NIH-funded biomedical researchers at ASU.