Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

In 1994, we have purchased, using a CFI grant for the establishment of young scientist, a phosphorimager Model Si from Molecular Dynamics for the INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier researchers. After extensive use, however, this instrument has recently accumulated a number of costly optical and electronic failures and the instrument was recently considered beyond repair based on its current condition by equipment specialists. The use of this equipment have been instrumental for the generation of high quality data from many laboratories from our institution as well from visiting scientists.  For several years, it has been part of the services and infrastructure that are available for the research and training of young scientists. Thus, at the present time, we do not have access to such an instrument on the campus.   In this application, we request funds to re-establish this important service to our community of researchers and students and acquire a new generation phosphorimager which not only provides analysis of radioactive samples by phosphorescence measurements but also allows analysis of non-radioactive samples by multiparametric fluorescence measurements.