Confocal microscopy is an optical imaging technique that is an essential research tool to determine structure and localization in cells and tissues in two and three-dimensional space. The San Francisco VA Health Care System Cell Imaging Core Facility currently has an aged (>15 years old Zeiss LSM510Meta) confocal fluorescent microscope, which has frequent and recurring malfunctions, is no longer supported by the manufacturer, and no longer provides publication quality resolution for images. To fulfill the imaging needs of current VA-funded research, and to provide an excellent imaging resource for basic and clinical scientists for years to come, we request a state of the art Leica Stellaris 5 fluorescent confocal microscope. The Leica STELLARIS 5 Spectral Inverted Tandem Scanner Confocal with LIGHTENING Super Resolution and Tau Sense Lifetime is equipped with many innovative and unique features to provide high-quality and fast imaging for a broad spectrum of fluorescent probes. This microscope was just released in May 2020 and offers exciting new and key features including 1) a white light tunable supercontinuum laser to excite fluors over a broad range of wavelengths, 2) high class glycerol-based immersion confocal grade objective lenses with motorized correction to visualize imaging in thicker tissues, 3) Power HyD S super sensitive detectors that improve image contrast and quantitation, 4) fast and high confocal resolution over large areas, and 5) a navigator tool that enables continuous back and forth viewing between an overview image and a targeted area of interest. A functional and innovative confocal microscope with these exciting new features will attract users to the core facility. We expect that usage fees from all users will be sufficient for maintenance. Research projects advancing studies of diseases highly relevant to the Veterans’ community that will be supported by this equipment include studies focusing on brain diseases, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Confocal microscopy is required to simultaneously image multiple brain cells in affected tissues to determine cellular localization and gene expression. Lung transplant studies will be served by this equipment to image fluorescent telomere-specific peptide nucleic acid probes and natural killer (NK) cells in lung transplant tissues. Infectious disease research projects related to Neisseria gonorrhoeae, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2 will be able to utilize this equipment to better understand the pathogenic mechanisms of infection and persistence. Studies of prostate cancer will also utilize this equipment to characterize prognostic biomarkers. We are excited to request the Leica Stellaris 5, a state of the art confocal microscope that will provide innovative and outstanding images for research studies to advance Veterans’ health. This replacement is much needed; the current microscope has been not supported by the manufacturer for a few yea...