Contact Points
Buffalo Grove, IL 60090
United States
1. Widefield to Confocal workflow
We have been approved for acquisition of the Leica Stellaris 8 Confocal Microscope which itself provides several technical advantages not matched by other current systems.
a. The DMi8 with the LAS X Navigator software allows widefield data to be loaded onto the
STELLARIS and aligned to the same physical sample (e.g., 1x3-inch slide) for more
demanding confocal imaging of that same sample.
b. This advantage frees up valuable instrument time on the STELLARIS as preview tile
scans need not be collected on the confocal
c. This improves the economics of system utilization allowing more access for additional users.
d. There are no other manufacturers of Stellaris-compatible widefield microscopes.
2. Hardware compatibility with existing Leica instruments and components.
Hardware components such as objectives, stage inserts, and cameras can be shared
between the DMi8 widefield system and the Stellaris confocal system allowing for
additional cost savings and efficiencies. Other manufacturers do not share hardware compatibility.
3. LAS X Software provides a consistent software and user interface across Leica instruments.
Acquisition of a widefield system that uses the same software as the Stellaris confocal offers a unique workflow advantage (see #1) but also provides consistency between system and obviate need to learn a different system. This will decrease training time and allow for faster attainment of competence on both systems. Other manufacturers do not share software compatibility with the Stellaris system.
The Leica DMi8 fluorescence microscope is the only instrument that meets our current needs (please refer to sole source justification documentation) given the requirement for hardware and software compatibility with the Leica Stellaris confocal microscope. Nonetheless, we did contact knowledgeable investigators within NINDS. The consensus is that given the uniqe advantages of the DMi8 which cannot be replicated by other manufacturers, consideration of other systems would not be advised. Nonetheless, we reviewed product information regarding the Zeiss Axio Observer, the Olympus IXplore Live Cell Imaging Microscope System, and the EVOS Cell Imaging System. In addition to the innate advantages of the compatibility of the Leica DMi8 system, we also found several advantages regarding optical features, range of fluorophores, speed of acquisition.
As a conclusion, DMi8 by Leica is the only instrument fulfill these needs.
The NINDS is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), conducting research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders and stroke. The NINDS mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. The SNB studies primary brain tumors, pituitary tumors, syringomyelia, drug delivery to the central nervous system, development of surgical technology/techniques, cell death in neurologic disorders and functional neurosurgery. SNB provides diagnostic services for the Clinical Center to support and evaluate on-going medical care and research activities. DMi8 fluorescent microscope will be used in the following works.
- Assessment of the blood-brain barrier in adult and pediatric CNS malignancies.
- Interrogation of the dynamic role of primary cilia in GBM tumorigenesis and treatment resistance.
- Evaluation of the molecular and cell biological underpinnings of epilepsy.
- Investigation of subcellular regulation of tumorigenesis in pituitary adenomas.
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