Confocal laser-scanning-microscope

• Subject Area: Neurosciences
• Term: Funded in 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 501115871

This application is for an inverted confocal microscope to be located in the Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration (BIN) of the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG). The BIN represents a recent UMG achievement. It consists of a specialized research building that harbors independent groups dedicated to investigate the mechanism of neurodegeneration by using cutting edge-imaging techniques. In the BIN, specialists in neurodegeneration and developers of optical instruments share their expertise. The users have the advantage to access very advanced microcopy techniques, offered as technological platform; the developers have the possibility to test their microscopes in clinically relevant models. This envisaged instrument will represent the first dedicated confocal microscope of the BIN and therefore will be of significant benefit for the BIN researchers. The “Cellular and Molecular Imaging of Neuroimmunological Processes” group is part of the BIN and offers to the BIN a model of T-cell mediated CNS inflammation and neurodegeneration that reflects critical aspects observed in CNS autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis. The specific interest of the group is to investigate how autoaggressive T cells enter the CNS and initiate the tissue-damaging inflammation there. To address this question, in vivo imaging by two-photon microscopy (TPLSM) is combined with transcriptome and morphological studies to investigate the pathological processes directly within the living tissue. More recently, the in vivo imaging set-up has been further refined by using an intravital nanoscope that combines TPLSM and super-resolution techniques allowing performing in vivo imaging from micrometer to nanometer scale. The next step would be to perform a detailed morphological analysis to validate the data emerging from the intravital and sequencing studies. No dedicated confocal microscope is available either in the BIN, where the group of “Cellular and Molecular Imaging of Neuroimmunological Processes” is located or in the Department of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Research (IMSF), with which this group is affiliated. Therefore, the requested confocal is indispensable. Technically, the requested machine incorporates state of the art-technologies in the field of one-photon optical sectioning imaging to guarantee top sensitivity, resolution and speed rate. This machine perfectly matches Cellular and Molecular Imaging of Neuroimmunological Processes group’s technical requirements and it is indispensable for realizing the program of the Heisenberg professorship which Prof. Odoardi was recently appointed at the UMG. Furthermore, the microscope will be an important technical resource for the other BIN research groups and for IMSF members.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Konfokales Laser-Scanning-Mikroskop
• Instrumentation Group: 5090 Spezialmikroskope
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Leader: Professorin Dr. Francesca Odoardi