Centro de excelencia
The University of Puerto Rico
A Nikon Center of Excellence was recently established at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), in the Molecular Sciences building (MSB). The MSB is a joint project of UPR and the Medical Sciences Campus (RCM) and reflects a total investment of $72 million. The building houses the most advanced scientific instrumentation in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. It is the first and only building in Puerto Rico devoted entirely to scientific research. The building consists of eight floors with a total of 153,000 square feet. The first floor features advanced instrumentation facilities including the areas of proteomics, Electron Microscopy, and Light Microscopy. The second floor will host about 25 researchers from the precincts of Río Piedras and Medical Sciences. Meanwhile, floors three, four and five will be allocated to interdisciplinary research groups in the areas of Neuroplasticity and Nanotechnology. The sixth floor will house the Office of Innovation and Technology Transfer, where space for the development of innovation ecosystem on the island will be provided; the seventh floor will house facilities for a vivarium animal, found in the design stage and whose construction will begin this year; and the eighth floor will be a terrace.
The signing for the Nikon Center of Excellence was attended by the President of UPR, Uroyoán R. Walker Ramos, Vice President of UPR, Dr. José A. Lasalde, Vice President of Sales for Nikon Instruments, Inc., James Hamlin, and General Manger for Product and Marketing for Nikon Instruments, Inc., Dr. Stephen Ross.
UPR president Walker Ramos described the addition of the Nikon Center of Excellence in microscopy as a means to stimulate cutting-edge research and attract collaborations with other universities and other private sector companies at UPR. “We continue showing that the UPR is the center of scientific activity in the country,” added the President.
“This represents a quantum leap where the company Nikon recognizes that the UPR is doing cutting-edge research and approaches to offer the possibility of a collaborative agreement in which they provide a facility in Puerto Rico with the latest tools, the latest technology, at the same time we receive an economic benefit,” said Vice President of UPR, Dr. Lasalde.
Nikon is “very excited about this partnership between industry and the academic institution (UPR), which is doing important research. For us it is important to have great scientists who will give us feedback about our tools to help us further improve our technologies” said Dr. Stephen Ross, general manager Product and Marketing of Nikon Instruments Inc.
“Our goal is to continue providing the necessary equipment for research here. This institution is able to recruit senior researchers who together with the team can convert Puerto Rico into a great seat of scientific research,” said Vice President of Nikon Instruments Inc., James Hamlin.
Systems Available
A1Rsi Resonant Scanning Confocal System
This system is built for both fast confocal imaging with the A1Rsi resonant scanner and fast widefield imaging with the combination of the Lumencor SPECTRA X light engine and high-speed emission filter wheel.
Components
- Ti-E inverted microscope with Perfect Focus System (PFS)
- A1Rsi resonant scanning confocal system
LUN-4 4-line laser unit (405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 640nm)
- A1-DUS 32-channel spectral detector
- DU4G GaAsP 4-channel confocal detector
- Andor Zyla 4.2 sCMOS camera
- Lumencor SPECTRA X light engine
- Platina piezoeléctrica Mad City Labs serie Nano-Z del eje Z
- FLI HS-625 triggered filter wheel system
- NIS-Elements software
A1Rsi Resonant Scanning Confocal System
This fast live imaging system features an A1Rsi resonant scanning confocal with spectral detector for linear unmixing of emission spectra.
Components
- Ti-E inverted microscope with Perfect Focus System (PFS)
- A1Rsi resonant scanning confocal system
- A1-DUS 32-channel spectral detector
LUN-4 4-line laser unit (405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 640nm)
- Lumencor SOLA light engine
- DU4G GaAsP 4-channel confocal detector
- Platina piezoeléctrica Mad City Labs serie Nano-Z del eje Z
- NIS-Elements software
A1R MP Resonant Scanning Multiphoton System
The A1R MP is a resonant scanning system for fast multiphoton imaging, and is configured here on an FN1 upright microscope for maximum flexibiilty.
Components
- FN1 upright microscope
A1R MP resonant scanning multiphoton system
- Coherent Chameleon Vision II Ti:S laser unit (tunable 680-1080nm)
LUN-4 4-line laser unit (405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 640nm)
- Episcopic non-descanned detectors (NDDs)
- DU4G GaAsP 4-channel confocal detector
- Nosepiece-mounted Z-axis objective piezo
- Lumencor SOLA light engine
- DS-Fi1c color CCD camera
- A1-DUS 32-channel spectral detector
- NIS-Elements software
Inverted Widefield Microscope System
The Ti2-A is an inverted microscope featuring Nikon Assist Guide for microscope alignment.
Components
- Ti2-A inverted microscope
Analysis Workstations
Three offline image analysis workstations with Nikon's NIS-Elements software. NIS-Elements combines automated intelligence to microscopes, cameras, components and peripherals with powerful archiving, analysis, visualization and archiving tools. Its intuitive interface simplifies workflow and speeds up image acquisition times while providing powerful features such as image stitching, object counting and volume views.