on January 1, 2007
A Confocal Microscope allows high resolution high speed imaging of living cells. Background: in 2003, in a very positive review of the IRB, the Swiss Science and Technology Council identified the lack of powerful imaging as a hindrance to productivity. Unfortunately the high cost of this sophisticated equipment has made it difficult to acquire. Since then the IRB has both grown in size and has increased collaborative projects with other institutes in Ticino who could also benefit from advanced imaging.
Public Private Partnership: a formal request for matching funds has been submitted to the Swiss National Fund toward the purchase a state-of-the-art confocal microscope, capable of multi-color, high-speed imaging of live cells, with maximal 3D resolution.This request has been endorsed by the Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI, Bellinzona), the San Giovanni Cantonal Hospital (Bellinzona),the Cantonal Pathology Institute (Locarno), the Cantonal Microbiology Institute (Bellinzona), Universita’ della Svizzera Italiana (Lugano), the Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI Lugano), and the Centro Sviz-zero di Calcolo Scientifico (CSCS Manno). The Goal: if the IRB reaches the ambitious goal of raising half of the 700’000 SFr. needed it will mark a milestone in thedevelopment of the institute as a catalyst for biomedical research in Ticino, and will be a clear indication that the mission of the institute is understood and shared by the people of the Canton.Advanced imaging technology has become essential for timely, competitive biomedical research. The application demonstrates how 6 independent research projects of relevance to Immunology, Hematology,AIDS, and Alzheimer’s disease, each from a different SNF-funded Group, will be advanced by access to the requested equipment.
These projects are but the “tip of the iceberg”, when one considers the enormous potential utilization of state-of-the-art microscopy by investigators from IRB and collaborating institutions.
