Advanced live-cell microscopy system for the development of biomimetic microchip technology for life sciences research

生物微机械系统和仿生微芯片技术具有巨大的潜力，将给基础生物学研究、药物发现和临床应用带来革命性的变化，并极大地提高我们理解和治疗各种人类疾病的能力。多伦多大学机械与工业工程系(MIE)是几个专注于生物微机械和仿生微芯片尖端研究和开发的实验室的所在地。虽然这些实验室拥有活跃且不断增长的研究计划，并准备在下一代生物MEMS的开发方面取得重大进展，但我们目前的显微镜无法满足我们最新研究进展和持续增长带来的对效率、功能和容量的日益增长的需求。因此，我们的研究进展及其影响受到了极大的阻碍。在这份提案中，我们要求拥有先进的活细胞显微镜系统，该系统具有高含量采集和分析能力，将满足我们对专用活细胞显微镜的需求，并提供推进我们研究所需的功能和能力。该系统将使我们实验室的受训人员接触到尖端的显微镜设备，这些设备将使我们的研究计划取得重大进展，并在更好地了解疾病和改进治疗方法方面继续取得进展。附近的微流控系统(CMS)化学和生物学中心将提供技术支持和维护，使我们能够利用现有的基础设施和技术专长。数十名高素质的人员将接受设备培训，并将获得可用于加拿大许多行业的技术技能。

BioMEMS and biomimetic microchip technology have enormous potential to revolutionize basic biology research, drug discovery, and clinical applications, and also vastly improve our ability to understand and treat a wide range of human diseases. The Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering (MIE) at the University of Toronto is home to several laboratories focused on cutting-edge research and development of bioMEMS and biomimetic microchips. While these labs have active and growing research programs, and are poised to make significant advances in the development of next-generation bioMEMS, our current microscopes have not been able to meet the growing demands for efficiency, functionality, and capacity that have emerged as a result of our most recent research advances and our continued growth. As a consequence, progress of our research and its impact have been significantly hindered. In this proposal, we request an advanced live-cell microscopy system with high content acquisition and analysis capabilities that will address our needs for a dedicated live-cell microscope, and provide the functionality and capacity necessary to advance our research. The system will expose trainees in our labs to cutting edge microscopy equipment that will enable major advancement in our research programs, and continued progress toward a better understanding of diseases as well as improved therapies. Technical support and maintenance will be provided by the nearby Centre for Microfluidic Systems (CMS) in Chemistry and Biology, allowing us to capitalize on existing infrastructure and technical expertise. Dozens of highly qualified personnel will be trained on the equipment and will acquire technical skills that are translatable to many industries in Canada.