Confocal laser scanning microscope with photon-counting and lifetime measuring capabilities

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 508268387

A significant part of the research activity carried out at the Faculty of Science of the University of Potsdam (for example, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology) routinely requires the application of fluorescence microscopy. Specifically, confocal fluorescence microscopy is regularly used to investigate dynamic subcellular processes in living organisms. The University of Potsdam currently operates five confocal microscopes which are shared among ca. 15 research groups in a decentralized manner. Three of these microscopes are expected to be decommissioned in the next few years, starting in 2023, due to the fact that the supplier will not guarantee repairs of these older models. For this reason, we propose to replace one of these microscope with a new confocal laser scanning microscope equipped with multiple photon-counting detectors, sensitive also in the infra-red region of the spectrum, and a resonant scanner. These features are required to perform quantitative microscopic analysis at high temporal resolution and, thus, keep the University of Potsdam competitive in the context of bio-medical research. Furthermore, the proposed microscope should also be capable of measuring fluorescence lifetime. This feature is currently not present in any of the microscope setups available in the University of Potsdam and will strongly benefit all the research groups working with biological samples that i) require multiplex labelling and detection of several molecular species or ii) are characterized by strong background signal and autofluorescence (e.g. bacteria and plant samples).

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Konfokales Laser-Scanning-Mikroskop zur Messung der Photonenanzahl und der Fluoreszenzlebensdauer
• Instrumentation Group: 5090 Spezialmikroskope
• Applicant Institution: Universität Potsdam
• Leader: Professor Dr. Salvatore Chiantia