# National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy

> **NIH NIH P41** · NEW YORK STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY CENTER · 2020 · $1,344,865

## Abstract

1. Overall: The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy
Abstract
The overall mission of the National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy (NRAMM) is to develop,
test and apply technology aimed at automating and streamlining cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) for
structural biology. Our goal from the outset was to provide a pipeline for molecular microscopy that puts it on a
par with other structural techniques like X-ray crystallography, so that, once suitable samples are in hand,
getting to a high resolution 3D map is a straightforward and rapid undertaking. This one time dream is now
obtainable for well-behaved samples as a result of many innovations and improvements in hardware and
software, including most recently the advent of a new generation of cameras that directly detect electrons and
record high frame rate movies allowing for correction of sample movement during image exposure. There is
still work to be done however in ensuring that this method can be applied to the most challenging and
biologically interesting samples and serve a very large influx of new practitioners of this method. Our
Technology Research and Development (TRD) Projects for the next five years are designed to meet the
challenges. Our goals are to develop novel approaches and promote their widespread use, as well as to
integrate complex technologies into an efficient and effective method. To achieve these goals, we will focus on
three Technological Research and Development Projects that encompass both completely new approaches as
well as dynamic evolution of our current technologies. In TRD#1, we will seek to address the critical need to
improve and automate vitrified sample preparation; develop methods for time resolved vitrification; and greatly
accelerate the throughput of negatively stained sample screening. In TRD#2, we will continue to optimize the
performance of both high and mid-range instruments, particularly with regard to integrating and assessing the
value of several major accessories; we will develop a high-throughput data acquisition pipeline to support
negative stain screening; and we will continue to develop enabling tools for data assessment, processing,
analysis and reconstruction. Finally, in TRD#3 we will embark on the development of a new automated and
streamlined pipeline for support of in-situ molecular microscopy, that is visualizing molecular structures inside
cells. The technological themes at the heart of this proposal support our mission of providing an automated
and streamlined pipeline for molecular microscopy that provides data of the highest possible quality and
promotes the accessibility of the method to the wider scientific community. This mission is driven by close
interactions and feedback from Driving Biological projects (DBPs), and further tested and validated by
Collaborative and Service Projects (CSPs). We will also continue to work to maintain excellence in the areas
of training and dissemination to promote th...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9905523
- **Project number:** 5P41GM103310-20
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** BRIDGET Olivia CARRAGHER
- **Activity code:** P41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,344,865
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2002-09-30 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9905523

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9905523, National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy (5P41GM103310-20). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9905523. Licensed CC0.

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