LIGHT MICROSCOPY FACILITY (LMF) CORE PROJECT SUMMARY Recent innovations in microscopy, including confocal and light-sheet microscopy, have extended microscopic analysis to 3D imaging of whole model organisms and the generation of comprehensive data on tissue structure, mRNA and protein expression, and fluorescent reporters of cell behavior in vivo. The MDIBL Light Microscopy Facility (LMF) Core will support graduated COBRE Project Leaders and other Davis Center investigators as well as the Maine INBRE and the greater IDeA network. This will be done through providing access to cutting edge lightsheet microscopy as well as support, training, and education in microscopy and digital image analysis. The LMF CORE, managed by Dr. Frederic Bonnet, will offer Core-assisted use of a newly constructed mesoSPIM for selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) that generates high resolution, wide field of views and complete 3D images of fixed cleared biological tissue. The aim of this COBRE LMF CORE proposal is to offer MDIBL and IDeA state investigators assisted use of the mesoSPIM in our Light Microscope Core facility that will support innovation in imaging and provide education in image acquisition, tissue clearing, and image processing and analysis. The LMF CORE will also hire a bio-imaging data scientist to design and establish image analysis pipelines, keep up to date with the latest analysis tools, aid in data submission to national repositories in keeping with current data management plan requirements, and support a growing base of users. The MDIBL Light Microscopy Facility Core has taken a leadership role in a developing a statewide microscopy network by establishing a microscopy course at MDIBL for graduate students, post-docs, research assistants, and faculty from institutions across Maine. The COBRE LMF CORE will also organize and host two imaging workshops highlighting 1) recent advances in biological imaging and innovations in light-sheet microscopy and 2) innovations in genetically encoded biosensors and digital image analysis. The COBRE LMF CORE will also fund a visiting scientist program to enable investigators to use MesoSPIM imaging in their projects by providing travel grants and user fee waivers. Enabling visiting investigators to acquire imaging data for publication and grant applications will extend the impact of the COBRE Light Microscopy Facility Core to IDeA states nationally.