The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center
UNMC_Acronym_Vert_sm_4c
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Advanced Microscopy Shared Resource

Scientist using microscope

Supported by the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center (FPBCC), the Advanced Microscopy Shared Resource serves as a hub for cutting-edge technologies, expertise, and training, driving collaborative innovation across various research areas. It provides a comprehensive range of biomedical imaging modalities capable of capturing intricate biological processes at different scales, from single molecules (nanometer, super-resolution) to sub-cellular and cellular levels (micron, confocal, whole slide scanning), and even tissue or small organs (millimeter, light sheet). The facility offers instruction and user access to advanced imaging (super-resolution, microscopic, mesoscopic) and analysis tools (HALO, HALO-AI, IMARIS) for internal and external researchers.   

Advanced Microscopy Shared Resource Specific Aims:

  1. Access to a continuum of state-of-the-art light microscopy resources resolving complex events across biological scales (organ, tissue, cellular, subcellular, single molecule).  
  2. Provide comprehensive training, guidance, and instrumentation (imaging and analysis), with expert support throughout the biomedical imaging lifecycle (plan, collect, analyze, report/publish, share).  
  3. Provide instrumentation, services, and support for comprehensive data collection (multi-modal) with detailed quantitative analyses (2D,3D,4D).  

Resources:

  • ZeissElyraPS1 (Super Resolution)  
  • Zeiss 800 LSM w/ Airyscan Detection  
  • Zeiss 710 LSM w/ Spectral Detection  
  • Zeiss Cell Discoverer 7 
  • Zeiss Axioscan 7 (Transmitted, Fluorescent Whole Slide Imaging)  
  • Nikon Eclipse E400 
  • Miltenyi Biotech Ultramicroscope II (Light Sheet)  
  • Data Analysis Workroom: 
  • HALO/HALO-AI Workstation  
  • IMARIS Workstations (2) 
  • Zen Black/Blue Workstation 

Services: 

  • Single molecule (nm) to microscopic (um) to mesoscopic (mm) imaging  
  • Independent, assisted imaging and analysis  
  • Consultation: design, collection, analysis, FAIR reporting  
  • Training/Outreach: in-person and on-line resources  

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Impact

Scientist using microscope

The Advanced Microscopy Shared Resource is located in the DRC 1, provides convenient access for 80% of FPBCC members. 

The Core has supported 114 publications and 508 grant applications, with 204 applications successfully awarded. 

It has facilitated some of the remarkable research studies, including evaluating the impact of cancer-associated fibroblast secretome on acinar-to-ductal metaplasia and PDAC initiation, where the core supported by providing instrumentation for quantitative analyses of fibroblast and acino–ductal markers during disease progression. 

Other studies include investigating the role of nuclear phosphoinositides in regulating the YAP/TAZ–TEAD pathway and examining the mechanism and function of PAF1/PD2 in conferring cisplatin and gemcitabine resistance in cancers, the Core supported in quantitative biomedical imaging and analyses of protein locations, interactions, and relative changes in concentration.

Director

Heather Jensen-Smith, PhD

Director, Advanced Microscopy Shared Resource

Team

Lara Bergdolt, PhD

Associate Imaging Scientist

Sathya Srinivasan, PhD

Associate Imaging Scientist