State-of-the-Art Confocal Microscope Changes Research at WMU

Western Michigan University, Biological Imaging Center director, Dr. Rob Eversole helped the Department of Biological Sciences acquire a new microscope that in a short period of time has already enhanced and changed the way WMU conducts research. The Nikon C2 confocal microscope was installed in Oct. 2014 and stands to provide numerous grant opportunities for WMU due to its advanced capabilities. 

WMU graduate student Darcy Trimpe has already benefited from the new confocal microscope in conducting her research on the neurogenesis and cell death in the olfactory bulb of the adult zebrafish. Trimpe was previously driving to the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, the closest facility to Kalamazoo with access to a confocal microscope that offered the enhanced capabilities of the Nikon C2. Now that Trimpe is able to study her tissue specimens on campus, she is able to focus more of her time researching possible mechanisms by which neuronal cells in the zebrafish brain regenerate, with the goal of understanding the process of cell regeneration in the human brain. 

In addition to Trimpe's research, several other lab projects are utilizing the confocal microscope for its ability to conduct time-lapse experiments, image larger specimens in 3D and accept cell cultures. The confocal method increases optical resolution and contrast and eliminates areas that aren’t in focus. The new instrument is particularly capable in rendering multicolored fluorescently labeled specimens with minimal operator training time.

Biological sciences graduate students and faculty are primarily using this new equipment, but according to Eversole because the microscope is so versatile, the potential for collaboration with the wider scientific community is much greater. Eversole is also mindful that this equipment, which is excellent for biological imaging, could bring in grants by collecting data for others, including local industrial companies. This includes a new collaboration with Metabolic Solutions Development Company in Kalamazoo. There are already $3.6 million in existing university grants and another $4 million pending. 

While Eversole took lead on acquiring the new microscope, he is grateful to the College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of the Vice President for Research, Lee Honors College, the Department of Biological Sciences and several individual scientists for their support and financial contributions, which were vital. This single piece of technology will not only give WMU students a unique research experience, but will also increase the ability for departments to collaborate while increasing WMU's visibility for being a research institution.