CTSC:CHBresources:MRRC

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Mission

The Imaging Core has evolved into a facility that offers investigators in the MRRC a broad range of imaging technologies that are both easy to use and affordable. MRRC investigators have used the spatial and temporal resolution capabilities of the confocal system for projects ranging from intracellular localization of molecules to time-lapse studies of the movement of ligand-receptor complexes through axons. Our new digital microscope has further expanded the scope of the Imaging Core, allowing MRRC investigators to work with brightfield and darkfield formats that are critical for analysis of histological sections, as well as with phase and differential interference contrast. Moreover, this microscope adds the morphometric and quantitative techniques of the Metamorph program, allowing investigators to count cells, measure processes, and perform a variety of other image analysis techniques that will greatly enhance their research efforts.

The networking capabilities of the computers within the Core allow exporting of images to the Multimedia Core for large format professional printing and for multimedia presentations. The microscopic capabilities of the Imaging Core are well suited to analyze materials generated within the Cellular Neuroscience Core of the MRRC and are used for karyotyping embryonic stem cells of the Gene Manipulation Core.

Facilities and Equipment

• Location of Core

The Cyclotron/Radiochemistry component of the PET Core is located in the basement of the Edwards Building. The PET Research Imaging Laboratories consist of imaging cameras for human and large-animals imaging on White II and a small animal imaging camera located at the Shriner's Burns Institute and a dedicated DSI Ceraspect brain scanner located at the Charlestown Navy Yard.

• Major Equipment

MC17F Cyclotron (to be replaced Jan. 2009)
Automated Radiochemcal Synthesis systems
PC4096 Large Bore PET Scanner
Exact HR+ Large Bore PET Scanner
Concorde MicroPET Small Animal Scanner
E.cam (Siemens) SPECT Systems and Planar Gamma Cameras
Dedicated DSI Ceraspect Brain Scanner

Services

Three-dimensional visualization and quantitative analysis
Quantitative calcium imaging
Time-lapse imaging
Multilabel fluorescence imaging
Ultraviolet imaging and uncaging
Time-lapse imaging and morphometry using light microscopy

Contact

For additional information, visit the website or contact Chris Shambaugh at (617) 726-8353 or by email.