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Upstate/Leica Center Of Excellence For Advanced Light Microscopy

Center Co-Managers and Contacts
Jushuo Wang, Ph.D., 315-464-8580, wangj@upstate.edu

Arvydas Matiukas, Ph.D., 315-464-7997, matiukaa@upstate.edu - STED/DLS microscope

Joseph W. Sanger, Ph.D., 315-464-5540, sangerjo@upstate.edu

This core is a joint enterprise between Upstate Medical University and Leica. It houses, in multiple locations, advanced instrumentation for the latest methods in light microscopy. The relationship with Leica as a designated Leica Center of Excellence, gives Upstate faculty and students access to new technologies, advanced training sessions in the latest methods in light microscopy and demonstrations of technology in development.

Instrumentation in Core

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Leica STED/Light Sheet advanced imaging system with five channel spectral confocal: (IHP/NRB-4624B)

https://www.upstate.edu/neuroscience-department/research/confocal.php

  1. STED (stimulated emission depletion) 3X nanoscopy
    This is a super-resolution technique that overcomes diffraction limited resolution. With multiple STED laser lines of at 592 nm, 660 nm and the pulsed laser at 775 nm, STED can reach a resolution below 30 nm.
    Key Features:
    • UV Laser 405 nm, White light laser WLL2 470-670 nm.
    • STED Laser: 592 nm, 660 nm and 775 nm.
    • STED objectives: 93x glycerol and 100x oil.
    • Five spectral detector channels: two PMTs and three HyDs.
    • Tandem scanner (8kHz).
    • XY Scanning Stage.
    • HyVolution2 for STED.
  2. Digital light sheet (DLS) Microscopy
    DLS microscopy is a fluorescence technique that uses a plane of light for 3-D imaging that is useful for large samples such as embryos, sensitive samples, or fast biological processes in vivo. It provides good optical sectioning capabilities and high speed with low levels of photobleaching.
    Key Features:
    • 4.2MP CMOS camera.
    • Detection objectives: 5x, 10x and 25x water.
    • TwinFlect mirror: 2.5 mm, 5mm and 7.8 mm.
  3. Confocal Microscopy
    Key Features:
    • UV Laser 405 nm, White light laser WLL2 470-670 nm.
    • Detection objectives: 10x dry, 20x dry, 40x oil, 63X oil.
    • Five spectral detector channels: two PMTs and three HyDs.
    • Tandem scanner (8kHz).
    • XY Scanning Stage.
    • HyVolution2 SuperResolution package

Leica SP8 confocal microscopy: (WH-108)

Leica's latest confocal system with three channel spectral detectors and HyVolution software that combines super-sensitive HyD detection with SVI Huygens deconvolution, allowing lateral resolution down to 140 nm compared with 200-250 nm for standard confocal microscopy.
Key Features:
  • UV Laser 405 nm, VIS Laser 488 nm, 552 nm and 638 nm.
  • Detection objectives: 10x dry, 20x dry and 63x Oil.
  • Three spectral detector channels: two PMTs and one HyD.
  • XY Scanning Stage.
  • HyVolution2 SuperResolution package.

Rules of operation

The Leica Microscopy core is open to all investigators in the University, we have to enforce some rules to insure every investigator has equal access to our equipment:

  1. All users must be trained before they are allowed to use the microscopes. After training, an account will be set up for reserving time and using the microscope.
  2. All users must sign up on the online calendar to reserve time before use of the microscopes.
  3. Reservation policies:
    1. No reservation more than 2 weeks in advance
    2. The reservation times may separate to two categories:
      • Regular working slots (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
      • Off-hour slots (weekend and weekdays before 8am or after 5pm).
      • During a regular working slot one user can reserve an instrument for max 4 hours per day and 8 hours per week; however this can be combined with an off-hour slot where the reservation is not limited.
    3. If you are unable to use the microscope that you have reserved, Please delete your reserved time on the calendar as far ahead as possible so others can see the time is available.
    4. If you finished before the end of your reserved time or cancel on the day of your reserved session, please inform the next or previous person in line so that he/she can start earlier or continue longer. If you are the last user of the day and you cancel your reserve within 24 hours, you are responsible for ensuring the microscope is turned off. Make sure to inform the user before you to shut down the system after finish, otherwise he might leave the microscope on for you. 
  4. Using the microscope:
    1. Please start your session punctually. Repeat "No-shows" will lose their sign-up privileges.
    2. Please check the online booking calendar at the end of your session to facilitate last minute changes and scheduling updates. Leave the system on if someone is reserved next within two hours; keep the laser in standby whenever possible to prolong their life.
    3. Users must clean the microscope objectives they used and dispose of garbage when finish. If you bring any live specimens or potentially harmful samples, please dispose of them in your lab.
    4. The last user of the evening is responsible for shutting down the microscope system.
  5. You are responsible for your data. The system computers are for temporary image storage. Please save your data on the data hard drive of the computer and transfer your image data as soon as possible after acquisition. Image files left on the computer hard drives will be removed in a period of time.
  6. Users are required to report any problems or damages during usage of the microscope.
  7. No food or drink is allowed in the microscope rooms.

Billing rules:

  • The hours billed are based on your computer log off. Remember to log off to end the billing session.
  • All users must record system usage on the paper log at each microscope.
  • Minimum time billed is 1 hr
  • Each imaging session will be billed by the larger of either the time reserved or hours used in 1 hr increments (i.e., all time is round up to a full hour)
  • Technical support is billed in 1 min increments and added to the cost/hr for the usage
  • The annual power user fee has been replaced by the quarterly discount. There is now a quarterly cap on the cost of laser use. Other fees (training, technical support etc) are billed in addition to laser use and are not discounted.

If you fail to show up for time you have scheduled on the calendar, you will be billed for the amount of time scheduled.

Removal (cancellation) or modification of time scheduled on the calendar must be done at least 24 hr before the time you were scheduled for or you will be billed for the amount of time originally scheduled. (Note the calendar keeps electronic record of all entries and modifications).

Core Fees

Core Fee Schedule

How to Access Core Services:

Phone: 315-464-8566
Email: fany@upstate.edu

More Information

SUNY Upstate Medical University and Leica Microsystems, Inc. have combined efforts to establish the Leica Microsystems Center of Excellence at SUNY Upstate. The Center supports a mission to drive new discoveries and insights from scientific research performed using state-of-the-art imaging systems.

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