# Nikon Confocal Microscope for Shared Biomedical Research

> **NIH NIH S10** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $537,625

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
This proposal represents a request from a group of 15 NIH-funded investigators with overlapping imaging needs
for funding to acquire a Nikon AX Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSM) to facilitate the visualization and
quantification of the three-dimensional spatial organization of fixed cells and tissues as well as living specimens,
with the latter including the need to monitor time-dependent changes. The system will be housed in the
Washington University Center for Cellular Imaging (WUCCI), an institution-wide shared technology resource
based at the School of Medicine. The current laser scanning confocal microscopes in the WUCCI are already
heavily subscribed by different user groups with different needs (upright configuration for model system imaging
and Airyscan capabilities for sub-diffraction limited imaging) and additional workhorse confocal capacity is
needed to facilitate the work of the Major and Minor user projects described herein. The Nikon AX confocal
microscope platform is configured with (i) a Nikon Ti2 inverted motorized microscope frame, (ii) 405 nm, 488 nm,
561 nm, and 640 nm excitation lasers, (iii) high-sensitivity filter-based and spectral detectors, (iv) a variety of dry
and immersion-based objective lenses and (v) a stage-top incubation system to facilitate the physiological
imaging of living specimens. Fifteen investigators from nine different units at the School of Medicine will make
use of this imaging platform to enable a wide-range of basic and translational research studies aimed at
understanding the mechanisms of viral and bacterial pathogenesis, the dynamics of cell migration, mitochondrial
dysfunction, metabolic homeostasis, diabetes, circadian physiology and neurodegenerative disease. While the
instrument has been configured to meet the specific needs of the major user group, we thoroughly expect it to
impact many other research programs. The expertise and institutional support for this instrument are exceptional.
Dr. James Fitzpatrick, the Scientific Director of WUCCI, and Dr. David Piston, the Chair of Cell Biology &
Physiology and head of the WUCCI Advisory Board, are both world-renowned experts in cellular microscopy and
their combined leadership brings over 40 years of experience in providing cost-efficient training and support for
high quality quantitative cellular imaging to a wide range of NIH-funded users. In support of this S10 grant
application, the institution will also commit $100,000 ($20,000 per year for five years) to ensure the long-term
success of this instrument.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10413403
- **Project number:** 1S10OD030233-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** David W Piston
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $537,625
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-05-01 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10413403

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10413403, Nikon Confocal Microscope for Shared Biomedical Research (1S10OD030233-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10413403. Licensed CC0.

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