Microscopy & Imaging Shared Resource

NIH RePORTER · NIH · P30 · $43,629 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

MICROSCOPY & IMAGING SHARED RESOURCE: PROJECT SUMMARY The Microscopy & Imaging Shared Resource (MISR), established in 1989 and Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG)–funded since 1991, supports Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC) Members apply advanced microscopy and imaging-based technologies to their research. The MISR provides access to well-maintained imaging systems and the expertise, training, and reagents necessary for investigators to make optimal use of these technologies on both the DC and NJ campuses. The MISR provides LCCC Members access to instrumentation for bright-field microscopy, wide-field fluorescence microscopy, and more advanced applications, including high-speed and time-lapse confocal microscopy, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF), multispectral emission imaging, fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), fluorescence recovery after photo-bleaching (FRAP), and deep tissue multiphoton imaging. During the current project period, the MISR has added three super-resolution imaging platforms (two in DC one in NJ), phasor-based fluorescence lifetime imaging, second- and third-harmonic generation imaging, and has greatly enhanced the high-speed confocal imaging and TIRF capabilities of the facility with the acquisition of multiple new imaging platforms, both in DC and NJ. In addition to the acquisition and analysis software on each imaging platform, the MISR maintains four dedicated offline image analysis workstations running MetaMorph, Volicity, Huygens, and other analytic tools. The MISR, led by Co-Directors Michael Johnson, PhD, in DC, and Steven Park, BS, in NJ is supported by two additional faculty members and managers in DC and NJ. The MISR team has considerable experience and expertise with wide-field and confocal optical imaging, time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, multiphoton imaging approaches, molecular cytogenetics, the maintenance of custom imaging platforms, sample preparation and processing, and a wide array of image analysis approaches. The MISR receives input from the MISR Advisory Committee and annual user surveys to prioritize development and assess programmatic needs across the consortium. The MISR provides LCCC Members with expert advice, training, and assistance with experimental design, data acquisition, and image analysis, to ensure that they can take optimal advantage of the resources available. Seminars and workshops on various topics are offered regularly. In FY2022, the MISR provided services to 26 LCCC Members across all three Research Programs (12 Cancer Cell Biology Members, 13 Cancer Host Interactions Members, and 1 Cancer Prevention and Control Member). During the current project period, MISR contributed to 46 publications, including 13 papers in high-impact journals, and provided support that enabled the success of 30 extramurally funded grants. Future plans include the addition of a light-sheet microscopy platform in DC...

Key facts

NIH application ID
10849018
Project number
2P30CA051008-30
Recipient
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Principal Investigator
MICHAEL D JOHNSON
Activity code
P30
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2024
Award amount
$43,629
Award type
2
Project period
1997-08-15 → 2029-04-30