# Acquisition of cryo-electron microscope

> **NIH NIH S10** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2020 · $1,993,586

## Abstract

This proposal requests support for the purchase of an Thermo Fisher Glacios electron
microscope equipped with a Falcon 3EC direct electron detector and EPU data collection
software to be shared by several users at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
 Recent technical developments in cryo-EM have revolutionized structural biology, allowing
structures of proteins as small as 100 kDa to be determined to near-atomic resolution, without
the need to crystallize. These developments include mechanically and optically stable
microscopes with automatic sample changers able to run continuously for several days with
minimal supervision, and direct electron detectors (DEDs) with greatly improved resolution
performance and low noise (high detective quantum efficiency, DQE) compared to traditional
CCD detectors.
 UAB is currently equipped with an FEI F20 electron microscope with a Gatan K3 direct
electron detector. While this instrument is theoretically capable of reaching ≈4Å resolution, it is
incapable of high-throughput operation needed for sample screening and high-resolution data
collection. The proposed Glacios instrument will enable high-resolution/high-throughput cryo-EM
at UAB. Many investigators at UAB who use structural approaches for their research will be able
to take advantage of the new capabilities, leading to accelerated progress on many medically
important projects in key areas such as antibacterial drug discovery, emerging and biodefense-
related viruses, vaccine development, cystic fibrosis, Parkinson's disease, cancer, and others.
The Glacios microscope, the Falcon DED and embedded EPU software constitute a fully
integrated system that will be easy to operate and maintain by a variety of users. With the new
instrumentation, UAB will be able to attract new investigators who need high-resolution cryo-EM
for their research. In The proposed instrumentation will have a transformative impact on
research, training and recruitment at UAB.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9938922
- **Project number:** 1S10OD024978-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Terje Dokland
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,993,586
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-05 → 2022-09-04

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9938922

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9938922, Acquisition of cryo-electron microscope (1S10OD024978-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9938922. Licensed CC0.

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