# Cluster B: 6 Central Microscopy Research Facility

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2020 · $69,954

## Abstract

Established in 1973, the Central Microscopy Research Facility (CMRF) is co-administered by the 
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center (HCCC) and the UI Office of the Vice President for 
Research. The CMRF is directed by Randy Nessler, who has 29 years of experience in this 
facility, and brings this tremendous experience and expertise to serve the research needs of 
HCCC investigators. 
The CMRF provides services that include instrumentation, training, guidance and supplies for 
performance of light, confocal, and electron microscopy of many different types. Cancer 
researchers receive the following services: specialized staining and embedding of samples, 
negative staining, metallic coating, autoradiography, cryo-fixation, enzyme and immuno- 
cytochemistry, morphometry, stereology, X-ray microanalysis and microdissection. The facility is 
accessible 7 days a week, 24 hours/day. 
The facility houses approximately $10M in equipment in 3 campus sites. The main site is 
centrally located in the Eckstein Medical Research Building of the Carver College of Medicine 
(CCOM) campus. This and a second CCOM site in the Bowen Science Building (BSB) are easily 
accessible to HCCC researchers. Instrument acquisition is driven by the research needs, with 
HCCC members playing important roles in the procurement of new technology to be housed 
within the CMRF. Recent acquisitions include a Leica LMD7000, and a Leica SP8 laser scanning 
confocal with Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED). In addition, a National Institute of Health 
S10 grant for the acquisition of Spectral Instruments Imaging, Inc. Spectral LagoX is being 
written for the May 2015 call for proposals. The LagoX will replace the IVIS200 live animal 
imaging system, which is heavily utilized by HCCC researchers to track tumorigenesis in murine 
models. To realize the full potential of newly acquired instrumentation, the research staff of the 
CMRF undergo constant training. The 6 full-time staff members have a combined total of +90 
years of microscopy research experience, with many years devoted to cancer research. 
During 2014, 66 HCCC members from all HCCC programs utilized the CMRF. The major goal of 
the CMRF is to continue to provide high-quality microscopy services to cancer research projects, 
ensuring that HCCC investigators have access to the latest instrumentation and techniques to 
enhance their work.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9914244
- **Project number:** 5P30CA086862-20
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** Randy Alan Nessler
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $69,954
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9914244

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9914244, Cluster B: 6 Central Microscopy Research Facility (5P30CA086862-20). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-14 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9914244. Licensed CC0.

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