The Nikon Super-resolution Microscope system is installed in the renovated BSL2 space on the 2nd floor of the Biomedical Research Tower (BRT) at Campus Microscopy and Imaging Facility (CMIF) and Microscopy Shared Resource (MSR). The system consists of Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM), STochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM) and Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy capabilities. The SIM and TIRF can be used with a range of commonly used fluorophores including expressed fluorescent proteins. The SIM can resolve up to 115nm in 3D-SIM mode and 86nm in TIRF-SIM mode in the X/Y plane. The STORM offers down to 20nm resolution in the X/Y plane and 50nm in the Z plane, but it requires specialized probes and optimization. This is a Widefield based system with two cameras set up for red and green imaging. This is a $750,000 instrument, which was funded by the NIH S10 grant, with supporting funds from the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC) for the STORM capability and the Office of Research for the room remodeling. The system can also be utilized as a state-of-the-art widefield imaging system for live and fixed cells and tissues.

We have strived to make the system with affordable rate at $40/hr, which is lower than the average rate for comparable Big 10 and regional academic institution microscopy cores. Dr. Anthony Vetter from Nikon has agreed to help with advanced training and to discuss applications and operations on this system. Please let us know if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity. The CMIF/MSR staff are happy to provide tours and trainings as well.

We hope to see you soon and help your advancement in research with our services. 

Please don't forget to acknowledge the CMIF/MSR and NIH S10 grant in your publications:
We acknowledge resources from the Campus Microscopy and Imaging Facility (CMIF), and the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC) Microscopy Shared Resource (MSR) at the Ohio State University with NIH S10 OD025008 and NIH NIC P30CA016058.
 

The software has been updated on Feb. 5, 2021.

To make the software looking as similar as the old version and make sure all functions work properly, please note the new username/password are listed in Nikon A1R room.

Please watch this video (below) for the comparison between the old and new version software (Notice: this is only for the reference purpose, some details are not identical).

We are working on a new version manual. It will be available to all users soon.

--CMIF, Feb. 9, 2021

On 1/7/2020 our scheduling system (FOM.osu.edu) that is used for making reservations for our instrumentation was integrated into Workday. All users will need to have a Workday requisition that has been entered into FOM.

For directions on how to create a requisition in Workday that will be used in FOM, please refer to this KB article. Please make sure to select "CMIF - Campus Microscopy Imaging Facility" as the supplier.

Training is an Important Mission of the CMIF / OSUCCCMSR!
Not only does it afford trainees the experience hands-on operation of sophisticated and expensive imaging systems but also has many other advantages. Intimate familiarity with our instrumentation allows users to explore aspects of imaging that they might not otherwise have considered and also brings down operating costs, a critical factor in budgeting research budgets. Working closely with experienced CMIF staff also allows trainees and our staff to mutually explore various approaches to experimental design, maximizing the quality and type of data afforded by our imaging systems. And of course generally a user that knows what they are looking for in a specimen according to the experimental design, which to a third party might not be so obvious.

Currently We Are Operating Under an OR approved Phase III Covid SOP
Which unfortunately due to social distancing restrictions, makes one-on-one training challenging. We have submitted a Phase IV SOP for one-on-one training when social distancing is impractical due to finer manipulations of specimens or instrumentation. Our SOP is under review and needs to be aligned with training protocols in the other OSU cores.

Interim Training Procedures
Meanwhile we have alternatives. Our trained staff can operate the instrumentation while the user observes – either at a distance (we have found that there is a surprising amount of co-ordination that can be accomplished by observing our screens at a 6’ distance and verbally communicating with our operating staff) or via zoom where a phone camera is set up to focus on the specimen, operating panel or the screen allowing real time communication between staff operator and the user.

Future Digital Remote Training Options
We are currently purchasing tripods for cell phones to allow such positioning. We are also working on putting together a library of training videos to cover some of the more basic aspects of each instrument. We will continue this effort even when the Covid restrictions are ended since these may replace the more basic one-on-one initial training, thus freeing up time for our staff to work with more users and give them more time to work on experimental design, methods development and equipment proposals.

We understand your frustration but please rest assured we are as keen to get back to training as much as you are! - Paul

The CMIF Featured Image represents a cross-sectioned tibialis anterior muscle derived from a mouse with muscular dystrophy. This image was captured using the Nikon A1R microscope by Dr. J. Spencer Hauck from the laboratory of Jill Rafael-Forney, PhD. This image demonstrates the infiltration of immune cells (green) into the muscle tissue (represented by red and blue staining). For more information regarding Dr. Rafael-Fortney’s research, please visit the following webpage.