# Intracellular cargo transport in Toxoplasma gondii

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS · 2023 · $184,680

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Intracellular cargo transport is a vital and ubiquitous cellular process that occurs in all eukaryotic cells. The
research focus of the parent grant is to understand the cargo transport mechanism in the protozoan parasite
Toxoplasma gondii. To answer these questions my research group uses a combination of cell biology and
biophysical techniques and a huge proportion of the data generated in my laboratory is microscopy based. To
date we have used a DeltaVision Elite microscope. However, production of this microscope was discontinued
in 2019. Many replacement parts are no longer available. Repair and service of the DeltaVision has become
increasingly difficult in the last 12 months. We have experienced significant delays in finding replacement
parts, which has led to decreased productivity for members of my research team. In the event that a defective
microscope part cannot be replaced, all progress on our research projects would stall. With this equipment
supplement, we propose to replace the DeltaVision with a Ti2 system from Nikon that has improved
functionality. Briefly, the Nikon system has a customizable stage that will be adapted to include a microfluidics
system, facilitating the implementation of new in vitro assays and analysis pipelines. In addition, Ti2 can
accommodate both confocal and high-resolution applications at either the time of installation or as future
upgrades. The Ti2 has an industry leading field of view and increased acquisition speeds. The 4th generation
perfect focus system and the ThermoBoxTM will enable long-term multiday imaging experiments, which are
currently not feasible. Our work critically depends on a reliable and serviceable microscope. Purchase of the
new Ti2 Nikon system will allow us to continue the progress on understanding the cargo transport mechanisms
in T. gondii and expand our repertoire of experimental approaches.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10795244
- **Project number:** 3R35GM138316-03S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS
- **Principal Investigator:** Aoife Heaslip
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $184,680
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10795244

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10795244, Intracellular cargo transport in Toxoplasma gondii (3R35GM138316-03S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10795244. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*