Microscopy

ABSTRACT: MICROSCOPY SHARED RESOURCE The Microscopy Shared Resource (MICRO) combines two outstanding microscopy resources, the Microscopy Services Laboratory (MSL) and the Hooker Imaging Core (HIC). The MSL provides confocal imaging, including spectral imaging, spinning disk confocal, standard wide-field imaging on both upright and inverted microscopes and light-sheet microscopy. The HIC provides confocal imaging on both inverted and upright microscopes, wide-field imaging, and high-content imaging for visual drug screens. HIC also houses a multi- photon system for intravital imaging of tissues and organs at cellular scale within a living animal with the option of re-imaging the same animal over time. Dr. James Bear (CCB program co-leader) oversees the SR as faculty director and provides broad scientific direction. Dr. Pablo Ariel, facility director, brings experience in live-cell imaging, image analysis, tissue clearing and light-sheet microscopy. He has 10 years of direct experience in imaging using multiple modalities (widefield, confocal, multiphoton, super resolution, light-sheet) in multiple subject areas. This is a cost-effective service to the members of LCCC. A useful benchmark for comparing microscopy recharge rates is confocal microscopy use, ranges from $16 to $32 per hour, depending on the specific model, at the LCCC MICRO SR. Access to similar equipment at peer institutions ranges from ~$30 to $50 per hour, demonstrating the cost effectiveness of our SR. MICRO SR requests $142,766 for this facility, 21% of the total operating budget. MICRO is a well-established SR with use by 59 LCCC members in eight programs, making up approximately 34% of overall users.