Center of Excellence

Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt University Nikon Center of Excellence offers researchers across campus access to state-of-the-art microscopy tools. Primary goals of the Center are to drive high-impact biomedical discovery, provide first-rate support for the development of new imaging applications, and contribute to the education of the next generation of biomedical researchers. Center technologies currently emphasize live imaging using confocal and super-resolution instruments.

Contact

CofE Director

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Address

Vanderbilt University
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
PMB 407935 U-3218
Medical Research Building III
Nashville, Tennessee 37240-7935

Website

Vanderbilt University

Systems Available

CSU-X1 Spinning Disk Confocal System

This spinning disk system is configured on a Ti-E inverted microscope and built for speed, featuring hardware triggering of filter wheel and laser unit.

Components

  • ECLIPSE Ti-E inverted microscope with Perfect Focus System (PFS)
  • Agilent MLC400B high power 4-line laser unit (405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 647nm)
  • Laser unit for photostimulation (405nm)

  • Yokogawa CSU-X1 spinning disk confocal

  • Mad City Labs Nano-Z series Z-axis piezo stage
  • FLI emission filter wheel (fast triggered)
  • Andor iXon 897 EMCCD camera
  • Bruker Mini-Scanner galvo-based stimulation system
  • Tokai Hit stage-top incubation system

  • NIS-Elements software

N-STORM/TIRF Super-Resolution System

The N-STORM provides super-resolution single molecule localization imaging on the Ti-E inverted microscope, and also good for TIRF imaging.

Components

  • ECLIPSE Ti-E inverted microscope with Perfect Focus System (PFS)

  • N-STORM super-resolution single molecule localization microscopy system

  • LUN-V high power 4-line laser unit (405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 647nm)
  • Andor DU-897 EMCCD camera (STORM, TIRF)
  • Hamamatsu ORCA-Flash4.0 V2+ sCMOS camera
  • Lumencor SOLA light engine
  • Mad City Labs Nano-Z series Z-axis piezo stage

  • NIS-Elements software

N-SIM Super-Resolution System

This system features the N-SIM super-resolution structured illumination microscopy system on a Ti-E inverted microscope, suitable for both live and fixed cell imaging.

Components

  • ECLIPSE Ti-E inverted microscope with Perfect Focus System (PFS)
  • N-SIM super-resolution structured illumination microscopy system
  • LUN-V 4-line laser unit (405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 647nm)
  • Andor DU-897 EMCCD camera (STORM, TIRF)
  • Tokai Hit stage-top incubation system
  • Mad City Labs Nano-Z series Z-axis piezo stage

  • NIS-Elements software

Live-Cell TIRF System

This Ti-E inverted microscope features the H-TIRF module for motorized multi-angle total internal reflection imaging, including incubation for live cell applications.

Components

  • ECLIPSE Ti-E inverted microscope with Perfect Focus System (PFS)
  • H-TIRF motorized illuminator for laser TIRF imaging

  • TIRF Module (manual) for laser TIRF illumination on the Ti-LAPP system

  • Andor Zyla 4.2 sCMOS camera
  • Tokai Hit stage-top incubation system
  • LUN-V 6-line laser unit (405nm, 445nm, 488nm, 514nm, 561nm, 640nm)

  • LUN-4 4-line laser unit (405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 640nm)

  • NIS-Elements software