The Confocal and Specialized Microscopy Shared Resource is a fully Cancer Center-managed facility.Subcellular imaging is an essential tool in cancer biology. However, although the ideal specimen forconventional optical microscopy is two-dimensional, biological material is organized in three dimensions.Several technologies, notably confocal microscopy, are available to collect 3D images of biologicalsamples, with a spatial resolution superior to conventional microscopy. These essential imaging systemsare expensive and difficult for inexperienced users to operate and maintain, and are not routinely availablein individual research laboratory. The services provided by the Confocal and Specialized MicroscopyShared Resource are: one-photon laser scanning confocal microscopy multiphoton excitation confocal microscopy spinning-disk confocal microscopy digital deconvolution microscopyAll of these 3-dimensional fluorescence imaging technologies are made conveniently and affordablyavailable to HICCC members and other Columbia University researchers in a centralized facility, withtraining, assisted use, and consultation on data analysis and presentation provided by a full-time employeeand a manager. Since 1996, the facility has been used by more than 154 principal investigators from over30 basic science and clinical departments at Columbia University, and has contributed images for more200 publications. The facility is currently used at 75% of its maximal capacity during peak hours. InJanuary 2007, the facility moved into newly renovated space in the Irving Cancer Research Center. Thefacility continually seeks to add new imaging technologies to meet the scientific needs of our users. Inconjunction with the HICCC, we will introduce a new confocal microscope in the next year.During the last period of the CCSG, 37% of the users have been Cancer Center members with peerreviewedfunding, with those members representing 26% of the hours used in the facilty. The totaloperating budget of the facility is $273,025, of which we are requesting $79,749 from the CCSG.
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