# JEOL JSM-IT700HRLA Scanning Electron Microscope

> **NIH NIH S10** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $319,200

## Abstract

This request is for funds to purchase a JEOL JSM-IT700HRLA Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with
EDS. The instrument will be housed within the Center for Biologic Imaging (CBI) a large, centralized imaging facility
serving the needs of NIH supported researchers across our campus and at other local institutions. The mandate of
this core facility is to provide access to and training for a full range of light and electron microscopy platforms, image
analysis, and morphometric technologies to research groups within the school of medicine and elsewhere across
campus.
 SEM is an essential service provided by the center. The current microscope within the facility is a 22-year-
old JEOL 6335F SEM. This microscope has been in constant service since it was purchased in 2001, using funds
provided by the S10 mechanism (1S10RR015738-01). During its life cycle it has been used between 1000-2000
hours each year for NIH supported research and has been kept under service contract throughout this entire time.
 The primary reason for submitting this proposal is to replace this microscope because the manufacturer
(JEOL) will no longer support or service the system (letter included) due to a lack of available parts or expertise in
the field service team to service the device. All service support will end in April 2024.
 A second reason for this application for a new instrument is to improve and expand the SEM capabilities of
the core to meet the needs of our current NIH funded biomedical researchers. SEM technology has advanced
significantly over what was available 22 years ago, and the current system lacks the resolution, speed, and sensitivity
of a current instrument partly because of technologic advances but also general decreases in performance due to
age (even with continuous maintenance). To put this in context, the system was originally supplied with a polaroid
camera back, and the most recent update possible for the computer system (from Windows XP to Windows 7) was
a decade ago.
 Finally, as is described throughout the proposal, the analytic capabilities of SEM (using EDS) are completely
absent from our current system. We have a significant and growing group of NIH funded users who have truly
fundamental needs for this analytic functionality and have made a compelling case to bring this technology to the
center.
 Together we feel that these reasons present a very strong and compelling case to replace and upgrade our
current SEM with a contemporary device.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10846941
- **Project number:** 1S10OD036205-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** SIMON C WATKINS
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $319,200
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-15 → 2025-04-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10846941

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10846941, JEOL JSM-IT700HRLA Scanning Electron Microscope (1S10OD036205-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10846941. Licensed CC0.

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