Partnership for Live-cell Research

Nikon Instruments and Northwestern University are opening a collaborative core microscopy imaging center that will improve research capabilities at the University while providing Nikon with critical product development feedback.

One of only three such centers in the United States, Northwestern’s Nikon Imaging Center will be equipped with the latest technology in light microscopy imaging systems and will be instrumental in ongoing biomedical research.

As part of the collaboration between the two entities, Nikon will sponsor microscopy workshops at the Feinberg School of Medicine to ensure researchers and students can achieve the greatest return on their work with the new microscope systems.

The C1Si Confocal Microscope System. (Photos courtesy of Nikon Industries.)

The Imaging Center will house the latest generation of microscopy equipment. For example, the Nikon C1Si Confocal microscope combines two imaging techniques, confocal and spectral imaging, to view a complete “stack” of images, providing 3D spectrally separated cellular information that is acquired at a faster rate and higher resolution than when these techniques are done separately.

Then there is the Live Scan Swept Field Confocal microscope that allows users to rapidly capture images of fast moving live cell events and samples that are sensitive to light.

The Live Scan Swept Field Confocal Microscope.

“Nikon has joined forces with Northwestern University to offer researchers and students access to the cutting-edge microscopy imaging tools that are enabling a revolution in live-cell imaging research,” says Lee C. Shuett, executive vice president of Nikon Instruments. “They, in turn, will provide input from a user’s point-of-view about our instruments and applications. This information will help us to fine tune our newest microscopes and peripherals.”

“Having the Nikon Imaging Center at the Feinberg School brings many advantages to our students and faculty, most importantly, open access to state-of-the-art imaging technology,” said Teng-Leong Chew, director of the cell imaging facility.

The facility joins imaging centers at Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Francisco. Globally, the exclusive list of top imaging centers that house aNikon Center include Oxford University, England; Curie Institute, France; Heidelberg University, Germany; Singapore Bioimaging Consortium; and Hokkaido University, Japan.

For more information, visit: http://www.nikoninstruments.com/, or http://www.northwestern.edu/