CVRC Confocal Core

Overview of CVRC Core

CVRC-iPSC Core Services

The Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iSPC) Program will be sunsetting on June 30, 2025. Beginning in FY26, a new human iPSC core is planned that includes services such as reprogramming, CRISPR k/i and k/o, single nucleotide editing, premade cell products, and differentiation. Please check back with the CVRC staff for additional details and updates at this time.

CVRC-Microscopy Core 

All users must be members of the CVC. Contact Andrew Barr for guidance on becoming a CVC member. 

$25/hr charge for use of the Nikon A1R, all other resources are free to use once trained. 

All training provided by Dr. Megan Harwig.

 

Inverted confocal microscopes: 

  • Nikon A1R Laser Scanning Confocal ($25/hr)
    • Training initiated & reserved via iLab
    • 10-100x DIC objectives
    • Excitation laser lines 405/488/561/640 nm
    • Emission band passes (425-475/500-550/570-620/663-738)
    • Galvano or fast resonant scanning
    • Live cell imaging chamber: OKO lab boldline temp + CO2/O2 stage top incubator available
    • LED light source
    • NIS-Elements AR v.5.21.03 
      • Advanced research package capable of mult-dimensional image acquisition including multiple XY positions, z-series, multiple channels, time and large image stitching
      • Nikon’s denoise.ai
      • Photobleaching/photo-stimulation module available (Galvano = all lasers available for photobleaching/photostimulation; Resonance = only 405 nm laser available for photobleaching/photostimulation)
  • Nikon C2+ Laser Scanning Confocal (no charge)
    • Training initiated via iLab
    • Reservation via shared outlook calendar
    • 20-40x objectives mounted; 60x & 100x available as needed  
    • Excitation laser lines 405/488/561/640
    • Manual 2 detector system allows simultaneous imaging of up to 3 channels (4 channels may be imaged sequentially): 
      • Position 1: 445/35 nm & 660 nm LP
      • Position 2: 525/50 nm & 600/50 nm
    • Live cell imaging chamber: OKO lab boldline temp + CO2/O2 stage top incubator available
    • Metal halide light source
    • NIS-Elements AR v.4.6
      • Advanced research package capable of mult-dimensional image acquisition including multiple XY positions, z-series, multiple channels, time and large image stitching

Upright widefield microscope:

  • Nikon E-55i
    • Training initiated via iLab
    • Reservation via shared outlook calendar
    • 4-100x objectives mounted
    • Brightfield only (no phase/DIC)
    • Color and Monochrome cameras mounted
      • DS-Fi1 color camera (5M pixel; 12-bit)
      • DS-Qi1Mc monochrome camera (1.3 M pixel CCD) 
    • Mercury Arc Lamp flourescence light source
      • DAPI/FITC/Texas Red cubes mounted
    • NIS-Elements Documentation (v 5.20.00)

Inverted widefield microscopes:

  • Nikon TE-2000
    • Training initiated via iLab
    • Reservation via shared outlook calendar
    • 4-40x phase objectives
    • QI Fast 1394 12-bit color camera
    • Mercury Arc Lamp fluorescence light source
      • DAPI/FITC/TRITC/Texas Red cubes available
    • NIS-Elements Basic Research v 5.20.00
  • Keyence BZ-X810 
    • Training initiated via iLab
    • Reservation via shared outlook calendar
    • All training via Keyence Representative (Contact Andrew Barr for guidance) 
    • 4-40x phase objectives
    • Cubes mounted (4-positions):
      • DAPI/EGFP/mCH/CY5
    • Multiple stage mounts
      • slides (mount 3 at a time)
      • dishes (35 mm – 10cm)
      • multi-well plate
    • Keyence acquisition & analysis software
      • automated XYZ stitching of large histology sections; screening and quantification of multi-well plates.

Leadership

Andrew Barr | Research Program Coordinator Ill

andrewbarr@mcw.edu

Megan Harwig, Ph.D. | Research Scientist II | Microscopy Core Manager

Location and hours of operation

Hours      Location

Monday - Sunday
24/7 

     8701 Water Town Plank Rd
     Wauwatosa WI 53226

Contacts

Name Role Phone Email Location
Andrew Barr
Research Program Coordinator Ill
 
414.955.2578
 
andrewbarr@mcw.edu
 
8701 Water Town Plank Rd, Wauwatosa WI 53226
 

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