Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of Waterloo
$120,464.00
Entry-level confocal microscope needed for 38 users in the Faculties of Science and Engineering at the University of Waterloo
FY 2011-12
Summary
The University of Waterloo desperately requires a second confocal microsope for its multi-user facility.
There is only a single, multi-user confocal microscope serving the whole university. This single microscope has logged 10,632 hours of use since it was installed in 2004, and is booked solid for more than 40 hours per week. This microscope serves more than 37 faculty members in nine different departments at the University of Waterloo, including the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Pharmacy, the only English speaking optometry school in Canada, and the Faculty of Engineering, including Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Systems Design Engineering.
The University of Waterloo will donate $101,942 to support a new confocal microscope, by providing a confocal-ready Zeiss Z1 AxioObserver motorized microscope, complete with a full set of top of the line objectives, MRM camera and a TMC 63-500 anti-vibration table platform. The host computer and montor, upgrade kit for camera port and mounting kit for confocal scan head will be paid by the confocal users.
We request $120,464, or 54% of the total microscope cost for purchase of a LSM 700 laser scan head and associated ZEN 2010 software. The Zeiss Personal 700 LSM is the best valued, entry level confocal on the market, with superior sensitivity, flexibility and reproducible of laser-scanned images, and is designed particularly for mounting on a Zeiss AxioObserver microscope. The new Zeiss confocal will be synergistic with the old Zeiss confocal, operated with the same, intuitive, easy to use, ZEN software, and maintained on the same service contract.
It is odd that a University at the top of the MacLean's ranking, considered to be a most innovative and leading research-intensive university, is so under-serviced for one of the most basic life science tools in modern biology. Many single labs in Canada have more confocal microscopes than the entire University of Waterloo.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
422626-2012
Name nom
Spafford, David
Department département
Biology
Organization id
33
Institution établissement
University of Waterloo
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2011
Competition year année de concours
2012
Award amount
120464
Program id
EQPEQ
Program nane en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1501
Committee name en
Genes, Cells and Molecules
Committee name fr
Gènes, cellules et molécules
Area of application code
1201
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Life sciences (including biotechnology)
Area of application fr
Sciences de la vie (y compris biotechnologie)
Research subject code
5500
Research subject group en
Animal biology
Research subject group fr
Biologie animale
Research subject en
Animal biology
Research subject fr
Biologie animale
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Entry-level confocal microscope needed for 38 users in the Faculties of Science and Engineering at the University of Waterloo
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The University of Waterloo desperately requires a second confocal microsope for its multi-user facility.
There is only a single, multi-user confocal microscope serving the whole university. This single microscope has logged 10,632 hours of use since it was installed in 2004, and is booked solid for more than 40 hours per week. This microscope serves more than 37 faculty members in nine different departments at the University of Waterloo, including the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Pharmacy, the only English speaking optometry school in Canada, and the Faculty of Engineering, including Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Systems Design Engineering.
The University of Waterloo will donate $101,942 to support a new confocal microscope, by providing a confocal-ready Zeiss Z1 AxioObserver motorized microscope, complete with a full set of top of the line objectives, MRM camera and a TMC 63-500 anti-vibration table platform. The host computer and montor, upgrade kit for camera port and mounting kit for confocal scan head will be paid by the confocal users.
We request $120,464, or 54% of the total microscope cost for purchase of a LSM 700 laser scan head and associated ZEN 2010 software. The Zeiss Personal 700 LSM is the best valued, entry level confocal on the market, with superior sensitivity, flexibility and reproducible of laser-scanned images, and is designed particularly for mounting on a Zeiss AxioObserver microscope. The new Zeiss confocal will be synergistic with the old Zeiss confocal, operated with the same, intuitive, easy to use, ZEN software, and maintained on the same service contract.
It is odd that a University at the top of the MacLean's ranking, considered to be a most innovative and leading research-intensive university, is so under-serviced for one of the most basic life science tools in modern biology. Many single labs in Canada have more confocal microscopes than the entire University of Waterloo.
