Project Details
Projekt
Microscope Slide-Scanner
Subject Area
Medicine
Term
Funded in 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 556014666
A powerful slide scanner for the holistic digitalization of a wide variety of tissue samples with outstanding image quality of bright field and fluorescence images has become an almost indispensable technology in biomedical research. In addition to the imaging and scanning applications, a downstream post-imaging platform allows the analysis to be standardized, accelerated and user bias to be reduced. The microscope slide scanner described in this application will (i) allow a high level and efficient parallelization of the analysis of tissue sections, (ii) enable a comprehensive picture of structural and pathogenic changes by scanning entire tissue areas instead of individual regions and (iii) in the combination with post-imaging software allows objective and efficient quantification of tissue markers. The preferred device and the feasibility of various applications were extensively tested in demos. Not only could the feasibility of various applications be confirmed, but the device requirements for premise conditions and data management could also be checked. Of the advantages of the scanner, we would particularly like to emphasize its speed and high image quality. The device allows scanning up to 200 slides in one run using a robotic loading system. In addition to the throughput of the scanner, which is the most important selection criterion, the possibility of specialized recording modes such as multiplex, phase contrast, darkfield and polarized light is also important to the applicants. The following application discusses in detail why such an imaging system is necessary for existing and new projects at the Ulm University site. A well thought-out usage concept coordinated with all users that are involved is presented together with a data management concept based on FAIR principles. The device will be operated in the Organoid Core Facility, where five research institutes have already expressed interest in around 75% of the usage times. Only one other slide scanner is currently available at the Ulm site, which basically allows imaging of entire slides in bright field and fluorescence. However, this older scanner is used almost around the clock, meaning that usage times that would be important for applicants are not available. Waiting times for individual slides were approximately 6 weeks when the application was submitted, which makes concordant experiment planning with an adequate response to the results achieved impossible and thus puts Ulm scientists at a significant competitive disadvantage compared to other locations. In the event of a positive assessment of the 91b application, financing of 50% of the acquisition costs is secured by an approved structural and innovation fund from the state of Baden-Württemberg (SI-BW).
DFG Programme
Major Research Instrumentation
Major Instrumentation
Mikroskop-Slide-Scanner
Instrumentation Group
5042 Mikroskope für Hochdurchsatz und Screening
Applicant Institution
Universität Ulm
