Cell Imaging Core

 

The Cell Imaging Shared Resource (CISR) is an institutional, fee-for-service, advanced microscopy resource. The CISR provides researchers with access to state-of-the-art imaging equipment and expert technical support for sophisticated microscopy and analysis of tissue and cellular anatomy and physiology.

Director: Matt Tyska, PhD  
Co-Leaders:  W. Gray Jerome, PhD and Jennifer Schafer, PhD

Core Aims

  • Furnish VDDRC dedicated professional guidance in experimental design, image acquisition, data interpretation, and image analysis including training and custom workflows for post-acquisition processing and analysis.
  • Train VDDRC researchers, on a continuing basis, in basic and advanced use of imaging equipment and image analysis software to image digestive disease samples.
  • Provide access and oversight to the full portfolio of advanced, modern optical microscopy including Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSM), Spinning Disk Confocal Microscopy, Widefield Microscopy, Super-Resolution Microscopy (SIM, STORM, Airyscan, SoRa, NSPARC), Lightsheet Microscopy, and Multi-Photon Microscopy.
  • Provide Electron Microscopy (EM) technical services for human and animal digestive disease specimen preparation and sectioning and access to the full range of advanced, modern EM instruments including Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), conventional Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Focused-Ion-Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM).
  • Continually survey the imaging field and needs of VDDRC investigators to anticipate and rapidly provide new imaging technologies and equipment.

Core Services

  • Confocal microscopy 
  • Wide-field microscopy 
  • Transmission electron microscopy 
  • Scanning electron microscopy 
  • Technical assistance, training, and image processing and analysis 
  • Processing and Embedment of tissue or cells for EM 
  • Sectioning and staining of processed sample 
  • Immuno/enzyme histo-cyto chemistry