The FV500 Confocal Microscopy Facility at the Masonic Cancer Center is committed to providing a state-of-the-art confocal microscope in a collaborative environment.

Confocal microscopy uses fluorescent probes to identify, characterize, and colocalize cells or cell structures in tissues.

Confocal microscopy offers several advantages over conventional optical microscopy, including controllable depth of field, the elimination of image degrading out-of-focus information, and the ability to collect serial optical sections from thick specimens.

The FV500 Confocal Microscopy facility provides training, instrumentation, and software for confocal microscopy. The FV500 is a user-operated facility providing 24-hour access to a state-of-the-art instrument. Trained users prepare their own samples in advance, and can acquire images on a dedicated automated microscope or analyze data on a separate workstation. This facility is available only to Masonic Cancer Center members and their staff.

Contact

Confocal Administrator:
Margaret Ramnaraine, Scientist
612-626-3672
ramna001@umn.edu