Imaging Cores - Optical

RRID:SCR_023355

RII Core Facility Pilot Grants - May 1, 2024 deadline

Date of publication

Description: The RII Core Facilities Pilot Program is designed to support three key types of activity within the RII-managed core facilities. Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

  1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of RII-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers. Successful projects will result in new methods or techniques which will be disseminated to the UA research community via the core’s website, and be incorporated into the core’s standard operating procedures and capabilities.
  2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal. PIs must note the specific extramural funding opportunity announcement for which they plan to submit and their anticipated submission date along with their CFPP application. A full justification of the anticipated studies is required.
  3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Successful projects will result in student researchers with the technical skills to operate equipment safely, efficiently and independently within the core facility(ies). PIs should note the student(s) to be trained, the core(s) in which they will be trained, the equipment on which they are to be trained, and the funding source under which the student’s research project is funded. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

Due date: May 1, 2024 at 5pm
UA Cultivate link: https://arizona.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1915018

Arizona Imaging and Microanalysis Society Conference 2024 - March 22, 2024; Scottsdale, AZ

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This annual meeting provides a forum for members to discuss research and exchange ideas, as well as an opportunity for learning about new techniques and concepts. More information can be found in https://azmicroscopy.org/events/

Imaging Analysis Workshop March 21, 2024 https://azmicroscopy.org/events/special-event-open-to-the-public/

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RII Core Facility Pilot Grants - Feb 7, 2024 deadline

Date of publication

Description: The RII Core Facilities Pilot Program is designed to support three key types of activity within the RII-managed core facilities. Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

  1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of RII-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers. Successful projects will result in new methods or techniques which will be disseminated to the UA research community via the core’s website, and be incorporated into the core’s standard operating procedures and capabilities.
  2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal. PIs must note the specific extramural funding opportunity announcement for which they plan to submit and their anticipated submission date along with their CFPP application. A full justification of the anticipated studies is required.
  3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Successful projects will result in student researchers with the technical skills to operate equipment safely, efficiently and independently within the core facility(ies). PIs should note the student(s) to be trained, the core(s) in which they will be trained, the equipment on which they are to be trained, and the funding source under which the student’s research project is funded. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

Due date: February 7, 2024 at 5pm
UA Cultivate link: https://arizona.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1915016 

Introducing the Zeiss Axio Observer 7 inverted microscope with Apotome III

Date of publication

The RII Imaging Cores - Optical has added a new instrument, the Zeiss Axio Observer 7 inverted microscope with Apotome III. For more information on labs that might benefit from this instrument, see the full announcement at the UA Microscopy Alliance. https://microscopy.arizona.edu/news/introducing-zeiss-axio-observer-7-i…

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RII Core Facility Pilot Grants - Nov 1, 2023 deadline

Date of publication

Description: The RII Core Facilities Pilot Program is designed to support three key types of activity within the RII-managed core facilities. Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

  1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of RII-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers. Successful projects will result in new methods or techniques which will be disseminated to the UA research community via the core’s website, and be incorporated into the core’s standard operating procedures and capabilities.
  2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal. PIs must note the specific extramural funding opportunity announcement for which they plan to submit and their anticipated submission date along with their CFPP application. A full justification of the anticipated studies is required.
  3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Successful projects will result in student researchers with the technical skills to operate equipment safely, efficiently and independently within the core facility(ies). PIs should note the student(s) to be trained, the core(s) in which they will be trained, the equipment on which they are to be trained, and the funding source under which the student’s research project is funded. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

Due date: November 1, 2023 at 5pm
UA Cultivate link: https://arizona.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1912027

Zeiss Axio Observer 7 with Apotome III Microscope

This is a multi-function, motorized inverted microscope that includes a brightfield color camera and a 14bit greyscale fluorescence camera. The addition of the Apotome III attachment allows this microscope to give crisp "confocal-like" z-stack images of thinner samples. Thinner means out to approximately 20um in thickness, making this microscope suitable for samples such as: cells on a coverslip, paraffin and standard cryostat sections.

How does this microscope create "confocal-like" images? - The Apotome III projects a grid structure into the focal plane of the specimen, then moves it into different positions using a scanning mechanism. At each grid position, the Apotome III automatically acquires a digital image. The system processes all images into one optical section with improved contrast and increased resolution using a patented algorithm. The resulting image is free from grid structures. (SOURCE: Zeiss) Deconvolution software is available to further improve the image quality of the Apotome images.

Features:

  • AI sample finder - using a unique contrasting method, the microscope can find multiple wells in a plate, unstained sections on a slide, or locate the edges of a coverslip . Very useful for setting things up to scan multiple areas or large area scanning of tissue that's otherwise difficult to see by eye.
  • Colibri 7 LED illuminator allows for 7 specific excitation wavelengths (including a near-IR wavelength). With just two multi-band filter sets, switching between channels is significantly faster than microscopes using filter cubes, making tile scanning in fluorescence much faster. Due to spectral overlap issues, we should be able to capture up to 5 channels in regular widefield fluorescence and 4 channels with the Apotome III (which does not work with near-IR wavelengths). To see how your dyes might work with this system, see our configuration at FPbase.
  • Capable of color brightfield imaging (e.g., histology stained slides), Differential Interference Contrast (DIC, e.g., unstained cells), simple Polarized light imaging (crossed linear polarizers, e.g., Picrosirious red staining), and multiple channels of fluorescence as well as combinations of any of these imaging modes.

Specifications

  • Objective lenses: 5x/0.16NA dry, 10x/0.45NA dry, 20x/0.8NA dry, 40x/1.3NA oil, 63x/1.4NA oil (a 40x/0.95NA dry objective with coverslip correction is available upon advance request)
  • Colibri 7 excitation wavelengths: UV 385/30nm, V 423/44nm, B 469/38nm, G 555/30nm, Y 590/27nm, R 631/33nm, FR 735/40nm
  • Zeiss 489112-9110-000 (suitable for fluorescent dyes like DAPI, FITC, DsRed, CY5, and CY7) and 489091-9110-000 (suitable for fluorescent dyes like CFP, YFP, and mCherry) multiband filter sets
Equipment

OMERO (image data management server software) hands-on workshop - August 2023

Date of publication

OMERO is open-source software that the UA has recently made available which can help campus research labs with image data management. To assist interested users in getting started with OMERO a two-day, hands-on workshop was schedule on August 3-4 (9 am to 5 pm), 2023. For more information please contact Douglas W. Cromey, MS (dcromey@arizona.edu)

Information about the workshop and the registration link can be found at: https://microscopy.arizona.edu/news/omero-image-data-management-server-software-hands-workshop-aug-2023

 

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Core Facility Pilot Program (August 3, 2023 deadline)

Date of publication

The RII Core Facilities Pilot Program is designed to support three key types of activity within the RII-managed core facilities. Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

  1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of RII-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers. 
  2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal. 
  3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

Most awards will be capped at approximately $10,000, although well-justified projects may be awarded funding above this level.

List of eligible facilities:

  1. Analytical and Biological Mass Spectrometry
  2. Flow Cytometry and Human Immune Monitoring Shared Resource (BD LSR, BD, FACSARIA, BD Canto)
  3. Functional Genomics Core
  4. Imaging Cores - Electron
  5. Imaging Cores - Optical
  6. Machining and Welding Center
  7. Micro/Nano Fabrication Center
  8. Translational Bioimaging Resource
  9. University of Arizona Genetics Core
  10. BIO5 Genetically Engineered Mouse Models (GEMM) Core
  11. Arizona Genomics Institute

Proposals are due: AUGUST 2, 2023  | 5:00p 
Full Details

RII Core Facilities Pilot Program - May 3, 2023 Deadline

Date of publication

The RII Core Facilities Pilot Program is designed to support three key types of activity within the RII-managed core facilities. Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

  1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of RII-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers.
  2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal.
  3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

Most awards will be capped at approximately $10,000, although well-justified projects may be awarded funding above this level. It is required that CFPP proposals and their budgets be developed with the assistance of the relevant core facility manager(s). Proposals are due May 3, 2023 by 5pm. List of eligible facilities:

  1. Analytical and Biological Mass Spectrometry
  2. Flow Cytometry and Human Immune Monitoring Shared Resource (BD LSR, BD, FACSARIA, BD Canto)
  3. Functional Genomics Core
  4. Imaging Cores - Electron
  5. Imaging Cores - Optical
  6. Machining and Welding Center
  7. Micro/Nano Fabrication Center
  8. Translational Bioimaging Resource
  9. University of Arizona Genetics Core
  10. BIO5 Genetically Engineered Mouse Models (GEMM) Core
  11. Arizona Genomics Institute

Application and Full Details

Congratulations to Patty Jansma for her 2023 MSA award!

Date of publication

Patty Jansma, MS has been named the winner of the 2023 Hildegard H. Crowley Award, given by the Microscopy Society of America. The awards ceremony will be at the annual MSA meeting being held this year in Portland, OR.

Patty is currently the co-Manager of the Imaging Cores - Optical core facility (Research Innovation and Impact). She has over 4 decades of microscopy expertise and has managed microscopy core facilities for 33 years.

Per MSA "This Award annually honors a technologist from the Biological sciences who has made significant contributions, such as the development of new techniques that have contributed to the advancement of microscopy and microanalysis. A technologist is defined as an individual whose primary role is in microscopy and microanalysis tool development or service."

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