OverviewThe overall purpose of the Imaging, Data Analysis and Acquisition Module (referred to as the 'ImagingModule') is two-fold. First, it will provide facilities and support for state-of-the art static and dynamic imagingof fixed and living tissue from a variety of regions of the human and non-human visual system. Second, it willfacilitate the development of advanced and highly specialized data acquisition and analysis software. With thecomplete conversion of imaging to digital methods, sophisticated data acquisition and analysis techniques arerequired to quantitatively examine visual system structure, development and function. This module suppliescommon hardware for image acquisition, as well as software development and support for data acquisition andanalysis.Over the past decade there has been a revolution in digital imaging technology and its application to basicbiomedical research. The Imaging Module has been a critical resource in bringing this technology to the visioncommunity at Yale. Advanced imaging equipment is expensive and typically cannot be purchased andmaintained with the resources of a single investigator. The existence of the Vision Core Program and thisImaging Module at Yale has served as leverage for the development and acquisition of microscopes and relatedequipment using Yale University resources supplemented by Vision Program funds. This has enabled Yalevision researchers to adopt new tools and approaches to vision science discoveries. In the last grant period, ourImaging Module expanded in several ways. First, our Olympus inverted confocal microscope was significantlyupgraded. Second, we acquired SPOT digital cameras and associated SPOT software for our standard upright(Zeiss Axiovert) and inverted (Zeiss Axioskop) microscopes. These improvements have simplified imageacquisition and analysis for vision researchers without compromising quality, thereby significantly broadeningthe user base among vision science researchers at Yale for these core facilities.
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