Inverted laser scanning microscope

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 430680185

We apply for funding of a microscope with confocal scan had as replacement for our currently used system. Recent advances and new developments in confocal microscopy have led to a quantum leap-like improvement of the instruments over the last few years. Therefore, users of our Central Research Facility for Laser Microscopy are demanding confocal microscopes that go well beyond the capabilities of the first generation of the facility's instrumentation. This is essential, for example, for the quantitative analysis of intracellular Ca2+ signals using fluorescence-based indicator dyes. Particularly important is the increased sensitivity and the significantly improved signal-to-noise ratio of the new detector generation, which makes it possible to measure weak signals at maximum scanning speed over the entire field of view in a reproducible manner. Further measures in expanding the sensitivity of modern microscopy systems expand their application range towards physiological measurements. A large number of projects address dynamic processes such as changes during cell movement, mitosis, cytokine synthesis, endocytosis and changes in the interaction between pathogens and host cells. In these applications, it is of utmost importance for the users to achieve the best possible resolution with minimum photon exposure.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Inverses Laser-Scanningmikroskop
• Instrumentation Group: 5090 Spezialmikroskope
• Applicant Institution: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
• Leader: Professor Dr. Dietmar J. Manstein