The Integrated Microscopy Facility (IMF) functions as a supervised, user-based Core providing state-of-theartmicroscopy imaging capabilities to UCCRC members and other University investigators. The primarymission of the Facility is to provide a valuable, unique service to the University community by furnishing highqualitymicroscopy instrumentation, image analysis tools, and expert assistance. In addition, maintainingequipment in optimal condition and training users require skilled technical personnel, something thatindividual laboratories typically cannot afford. Because imaging technology and computational capacity areevolving so rapidly, it is extremely difficult for individual researchers to maintain or afford cutting-edgecapabilities.Integrated Microscopy offers one of the most flexible and informative tools available to researchers, offeringscales of detail ranging from tens of millimeters to less than 10 nanometers with appropriate techniques,Available techniques provided by the IMF range from classic color histological stain imaging, to contrastgeneration in unstained cells, to fluorescence technologies. Fluorescence methods continue to offer thegreatest range of applications ranging from localization of multiple targets to readout of biochemical orphysiologic parameters in either fixed or living preparations. Accordingly, the greatest resources of the IMFare allocated to fluorescence microscopy. By merging the microscopy facilities created by several campusentities, the combined pool of resources is more efficiently managed and maintained, while also increasingaccess, capabilities, and capacity for UCCRC member research. Overall use of the IMF has increased closeto three times the activity reported in the 2001 CCSG submission. Over 63 peer-reviewed investigatorsacross six Scientific Programs routinely use the IMF, totaling 49% of Facility usage.Services provided by the IMF consist of the following: Provide state-of-the-art microscopy imaging capabilities including brightfield (color, DIG, etc),fluorescence (multi-dimension; TIRFM; bleaching, etc), high-resolution, -speed, -sensitivity, confocal,and physiologic techniques. Provide training on all instruments and expert advice to investigators regarding experiment designand execution. Provide oversight to assure proper equipment use and minimize breakage. Provide computers including networked data servers and software for image analysis and publication. Serve as an educational resource for University investigators in the use of current microscopytechniques and foster interactions among users.
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