# Updated confocal microscope in the Imaging Core facility to support biomedical research

> **NIH NIH P20** · DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $249,751

## Abstract

Core Facility Equipment Supplement to P20GM103653
Summary
 Neuroscience-Center affiliated faculty at Delaware State University are also
major users of the OSCAR Imaging Core Facility that is supported by the
Delaware INBRE. However, the two confocal microscopes currently operating
in the facility date from the previous century, and the slow rate at which image
data are collected limits their application for live-cell and quantitative imaging
and limit the research questions that faculty can address using those microscopes. The acquisition of a spinning-disk
system confocal microscope will enhance and strengthen significantly the research and educational activities at
Delaware State University (DSU), a primarily undergraduate and Historically-Black university. The patented
spinning-disk system will bring a significant improvement in confocal and time-lapse microscopy with better spatial-
resolution, temporal-resolution, and improved signal-to-noise ratios for high-resolution bioimaging. The microscope
will be installed in the OSCAR Imaging Facility, a multi-user shared facility, allowing diverse pool of users to access
this advanced technology.
 We will acquire a Voxyl Spinning-Disk system (V3 confocal head and accessories) with NIGMS
supplement funds, and an IX83 Olympus inverted microscope (microscope stand and accessories) with
DSU institutional funds, which will be assembled to build a high-resolution confocal microscope. The
assembly will be directed by Dr. Boukari, an optical physicist with extensive experience in optical and
imaging instrumentation who serves as the director of the OSCAR Imaging Core. Dr. Boukari has
previously assembled a similar microscope while he was working at NIH. He will be assisted by our Core
Facility Manager, who has 10 years of experience using and maintaining confocal microscopes. Funding of
this supplement will allow DSU to leverage our institutional funds and the expertise and know-how of our Imaging
Facility staff to “bootstrap” our way to making cutting edge technology confocal microscopy available to our
neuroscience and biomedical researchers. By assembling the system ourselves we will save more than $150,000
compared to purchasing a turn-key system.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10400322
- **Project number:** 3P20GM103653-10S1
- **Recipient organization:** DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MELISSA A HARRINGTON
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $249,751
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2012-09-26 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10400322

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10400322, Updated confocal microscope in the Imaging Core facility to support biomedical research (3P20GM103653-10S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10400322. Licensed CC0.

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