Grant: Research Tools and Instruments
University of British Columbia
$150,000.00
Microscope for Multicolour Single Molecule Fluorescence Detection, Imaging, and (Cross-)Correlation Spectroscopy
FY 2017-18
Summary
A single molecule fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy system will be built from commercial components to provide important new capabilities that will advance leading research and training programs with biomedical, biotechnological, environmental, and materials science themes. The main components include a multi-laser engine and beam combiner, a high-sensitivity EMCCD camera and three-colour image splitter, avalanche photodiodes, photon counting electronics, and an inverted microscope frame and optics, filters, and optomechanics needed for integrating components and assembling the full system.The proposed system will be unique in its capacity for multicoloursingle molecule measurements in both an imaging format with immobilized fluorophores and a non-imaging format with freely diffusing fluorophores. The proposed design offers bothstate-of-the-art capability and flexibility to support multiple users and applications. Specifically, the system will offer single molecule fluorescence imaging with up to three colours in parallel, fluorescence burst coincidence measurements with up to four parallel colour channels, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), and up to four-colour fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS). It is believed that the proposed system would be one-of-a-kind in Canada. The system will be used to develop ultra-sensitive biological assays, including assays for extremely rare genetic mutations and imaging probes for complex cellular processes; to study diffusion and chemical reactions in atmospheric aerosol particles; for high-resolution structural analysis of protein folding dynamics; and for characterization of biomolecular binding processes and the formation of multi-protein complexes. The system will be part of the Laboratory for Advanced Spectroscopy and Imaging Research (LASIR) at UBC. In addition to enabling cutting-edge research in multiple areas, the proposed system will enhance the research and training of more than 50 current graduate student, undergraduate student, and postdoctoral trainees, and more than 200 total trainees (projected) over the next six years.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments
Recipient
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
RTI-2018-00100
Name nom
Algar, WRuss
Department département
Chemistry - Chemistry
Organization id
2
Institution établissement
University of British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2017
Competition year année de concours
2018
Award amount
150000
Program id
RTI
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1604
Committee name en
Chemistry (RTI)
Committee name fr
Chimie (OIR)
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
3404
Research subject group en
Physical chemistry
Research subject group fr
Chimie physique
Research subject en
Biophysical chemistry
Research subject fr
Chimie biophysique
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Microscope for Multicolour Single Molecule Fluorescence Detection, Imaging, and (Cross-)Correlation Spectroscopy
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
A single molecule fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy system will be built from commercial components to provide important new capabilities that will advance leading research and training programs with biomedical, biotechnological, environmental, and materials science themes. The main components include a multi-laser engine and beam combiner, a high-sensitivity EMCCD camera and three-colour image splitter, avalanche photodiodes, photon counting electronics, and an inverted microscope frame and optics, filters, and optomechanics needed for integrating components and assembling the full system.The proposed system will be unique in its capacity for multicoloursingle molecule measurements in both an imaging format with immobilized fluorophores and a non-imaging format with freely diffusing fluorophores. The proposed design offers bothstate-of-the-art capability and flexibility to support multiple users and applications. Specifically, the system will offer single molecule fluorescence imaging with up to three colours in parallel, fluorescence burst coincidence measurements with up to four parallel colour channels, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), and up to four-colour fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS). It is believed that the proposed system would be one-of-a-kind in Canada. The system will be used to develop ultra-sensitive biological assays, including assays for extremely rare genetic mutations and imaging probes for complex cellular processes; to study diffusion and chemical reactions in atmospheric aerosol particles; for high-resolution structural analysis of protein folding dynamics; and for characterization of biomolecular binding processes and the formation of multi-protein complexes. The system will be part of the Laboratory for Advanced Spectroscopy and Imaging Research (LASIR) at UBC. In addition to enabling cutting-edge research in multiple areas, the proposed system will enhance the research and training of more than 50 current graduate student, undergraduate student, and postdoctoral trainees, and more than 200 total trainees (projected) over the next six years.
