August 24, 2017

Las Vegas – Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District announced a $998,614 grant from the National Science Foundation to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for a multi-photon, laser-scanning microscope that will be used to study the behavior of cells.

“UNLV is a catalyst for diversifying Nevada's economy and attracting more young people to careers in the STEM fields. The grant will expand the possibilities of research at the university and help draw more students, scientists, and academics from across the nation to Southern Nevada. It will also enrich our community by providing access to high-tech opportunities for K-12 students in the state and those attending community college. I applaud UNLV for its work on bringing such an important project to the First District.”

Background from the National Science Foundation:

The newly acquired multi-photon, laser-scanning microscope provides advanced technology to obtain images from living tissues to depths of 1 mm. This instrument will be located in the UNLV Confocal and Biological Imaging Core, so that it will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to scientists and students across Nevada. Availability of this instrument eliminates the barrier of transporting samples to other states, and enables Nevada researchers to study living systems at new levels of sensitivity and depth. The high-speed imaging technology decreases tissue damage and increases sensitivity, allowing detection of fast-changing processes over periods of seconds to hours. This type of imaging is driving unexpected discoveries about the brain and how cells work together to build the architecture of many other organs. The advanced capabilities of multi-photon laser scanning microscopy will be used to study a wide range of biological and engineering systems, such as hormonal control of gland secretion, electrical oscillations in living mouse brain slices, repair and regeneration of eye tissues, organization of bio-fouling bacteria, and electrical activity of polymers for robotics and nanotechnology.