| NSF Org: |
DBI Division of Biological Infrastructure |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | August 23, 2017 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | August 23, 2017 |
| Award Number: | 1726925 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Robert Fleischmann
DBI Division of Biological Infrastructure BIO Directorate for Biological Sciences |
| Start Date: | September 1, 2017 |
| End Date: | August 31, 2020 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $998,614.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $998,614.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
4505 S MARYLAND PKWY LAS VEGAS NV US 89154-9900 (702)895-1357 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
4505 S. Maryland Plwy Las Vgas NV US 89154-4022 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | Major Research Instrumentation |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.074 |
ABSTRACT
An award is made to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) to acquire a high-speed multiphoton laser scanning microscope system to view the behaviors of cells in living tissues with time-lapse images. UNLV is the only research-intensive university in southern Nevada, and the largest in the state. Expansion of the scope and impact of UNLV research activities is a high priority for the State of Nevada, and part of its plan to diversify the economy beyond the gaming and tourism industries. The UNLV Confocal and Biological Imaging Core provides training and support for laser-scanning fluorescence microscopy in a wide array of biological, environmental, and engineering applications. Graduate students from across UNLV and nearby post-graduate professional universities receive basic and advanced training in quantitative fluorescence microscopy techniques, advancing the national goal of developing a diverse STEM workforce. Graduate students use the majority of Core instrument time, and are assisted by collaborating undergraduate researchers. In additional, other undergraduate UNLV students will experience the new multiphoton technology through modules in advanced laboratory coursework. In 2015, UNLV was ranked as one of the 10-most diverse public universities in the US. UNLV is also a Minority-Serving Institution for Native American and Pacific Islander students and an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution. Tours and demonstrations will be provided to students from nearby high schools and two-year and four-year colleges through outreach activities. To further recruit a diverse range of students to STEM disciplines, videos showing the inner workings of plant and animal tissues will be developed and presented in Clark County K-12 classrooms. Similar presentations for Science Café Las Vegas will enhance scientific literacy by introducing the lay public to the fascinating behaviors of cells within living tissues.
The newly acquired multiphoton laser scanning microscope provides advanced technology to obtain images from living tissues to depths of 1 mm. This instrument will be located in the UNLV Confocal and Biological Imaging Core, so that it will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to scientists and students across Nevada. Availability of this instrument eliminates the barrier of transporting samples to other states, and enables Nevada researchers to study living systems at new levels of sensitivity and depth. The high-speed imaging technology decreases tissue damage and increases sensitivity, allowing detection of fast-changing processes over periods of seconds to hours. This type of imaging is driving unexpected discoveries about the brain and how cells work together to build the architecture of many other organs. The advanced capabilities of multiphoton laser scanning microscopy will be used to study a wide range of biological and engineering systems, such as hormonal control of gland secretion, electrical oscillations in living mouse brain slices, repair and regeneration of eye tissues, organization of bio-fouling bacteria, and electrical activity of polymers for robotics and nanotechnology.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
This award funded the acquisition of a high speed, multiphoton laser scanning microscope system, which was installed in the Confocal and Biological Imaging Core at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. During the period of the award, the instrument enabled investigations of fundamental questions across the disciplines of developmental biology, neurobiology, eye wound healing and embryonic properties of regrowth, and radiation effects on organoids of human tissues. With this instrument on site, future research is planned in the areas of plant biology and ionic polymer material properties for prosthetics. UNLV researchers now have the capabilities to image living tissue samples at depths between 100 um to 1 mm, resulting in publication of new research in frog embryonic eye restoration, and on the impact of radiation exposure on developing mammary gland tissue. To date, the research performed has been disseminated to the research community by two publications and a poster presentation at a national conference.
The instrument is located at UNLV, situated within the only metropolitan area in Southern Nevada, and the largest in the state. UNLV is a designated Minority-Serving Institution for Native American and Pacific Islander students, and an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution. The instrument is available to all researchers with prior experience in laser scanning microscopy, on a first-come, first served basis. Graduate students comprised 50% of the individuals trained to use the instrument, and accounted for 67% of the total time of instrument use during the period of the award. Demonstrations of the instrument have been featured in recruiting tours for community college students to matriculate at UNLV and participate in the associated undergraduate research experiences. Demonstrations of the instrument were also provided in STEM workshops for Las Vegas high school students. Research training provided to UNLV STEM students advances the state and national goals of developing a diverse STEM workforce.
This instrument is the only one of its kind in Southern Nevada, and the only multiphoton microscope system available generally to Nevada researchers, due to its situation in a general imaging core, and outside of a research animal facility. Research enabled by this instrument helped to materially advance the careers of the three coPIs and one major user PI, and enabled acquisition of research funding by two coPIs and one major user. During the period of this award, availability of the instrument assisted in the recruitment of new tenure-track faculty, including one Assistant Professor in the Life Sciences with a record of success in obtaining nationally competitive, peer-reviewed funding, and success in recruiting graduate students to UNLV. Faculty recruiting success advances the research portfolio at UNLV, which is central to the State of Nevada's plan for economic diversification.
Last Modified: 03/01/2021
Modified by: Laurel Raftery
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