The objective of the City of Hope Light Microscopy Digital Imaging Core is to provide service, facilities and expertise to all City of Hope and Beckman Research Institute investigators who need high quality light microscope images.  The facility also seeks to provide state-of-the-art research platforms for automated microscopy experiments, advanced observation techniques and advanced digital image processing and analysis.

The Light Microscopy Digital Imaging Core has the following conventional light microscopes:  an Olympus AX70 upright for slide mounted specimens, an Olympus IX81inverted for culture dish specimens, an Olympus BX50 upright for low level fluorescence, and an Olympus Vanox.  The faciity also has the two confocal microscopes:  an upright LSM510 2-Photon microscope and an inverted LSM510 META 2-Photon microscope, as well as a Prairie Technologies Ultima 2-Photon microscope using a Coherent Chameleon Ultra II laser.

The Video Time Lapse Microscope facility is used to record cells in culture to observe their replication and other behavioral properties.  For example, cells can be treated with agents such as therapeutic drugs and observed for several days to determine toxic affects of such agents.  The cells are cultured in flasks, which are placed on a microscope in a warm room (37oC).  A CCD camera is attached to the microscope and the images are captured and digitally recorded at regular time intervals (as determined by the investigator).  The images are analyzed with software available for any PC. 

The Light Microscopy Digital Imaging Core is located in the Furth Building, Rooms F1113, F1114, the Prairie Microscope is located in Familian F1101, and the Video Time Lapse Microscopy facility is located in Furth room F1115.