URMC Pathology/Morphology Imaging Core (PMIC)

Contact: Director: Linda Callahan, 275-1317,
Linda_Callahan@urmc.rochester.edu; or
Lab Manager: David Pasternack, 273-4097,
David_Pasternack@urmc.rochester.edu

Instrument Sign-Up Calendar: Click Here to go to the PMIC Sign-up website

Overview of the Core
The URMC PMIC provides Medical Center researchers the ability and expertise to obtain high quality images and data from tissue, culture, and materials based scientific studies. The Core aims to be the information hub for Medical Center resources centering around histological processing, imaging, and quantitation from high quality images. The Core provides constant or intermittent hands-on assistance with all imaging procedures as needed by the investigators as well as customization of protocols to optimize obtainment of high quality data using Core instruments.

The PMIC Core is designed to facilitate Medical Center researchers' abilities to navigate from the level of the intact organism to the analysis of subcellular structures. For example, the core works closely with the DLAM Histology Laboratory (headed by Linda Johnstone) which provides service to all medical center researchers for the gross characterization, sectioning, and standard histological processing of specimens. The PMIC Core also works closely with Medical Center pathologists to facilitate both gross and section pathological analyses.

Core instrumentation includes the sophisticated Leica laser confocal microscope which can be used with an advanced upright or inverted microscope that provides the versatility to image all currently available fluorophores within the green, near red, and far red spectra. The Core also contains a state-of-the-art SPOT camera connected to an Olympus upright microscope which is connected to a computer that enables morphometric analysis of chromogenic or fluorogenic images.

Equipment: The confocal and classical fluorescent microscopes are located in two rooms on the 1-2100 floor.

1) Leica TCS SP Spectral Confocal microscope, equipped with both an inverted DMIRBE and upright DMRE Leica microscopes. More Info

2) Olympus AH-2 microscope linked to an image processing computer running Image-Pro Plus with a Spot digital camera or MicroFire digital camera. More Info

3) An image processing computer running Stereo-Investigator software which includes a motorized stage format. More Info

4) Adjustable Photography Stand with Spot digital camera and lightbox assembly connected to Image-Pro Plus image analysis software. More Info

5) A PixCell Laser Capture Microscope with full computer support. More Info

6) An additional computer is loaded with a duplicate set of confocal software, Adobe Photoshop, a QMS 330 color laser printer and a Kodak professional 8670 PS dye-sublimation printer

Services available and current rates:

New Service available: Stereo Investigator Equipment for unbiased stereology studies

Useful Links

Recommended image analysis software: ImageJ

NCRR-supported, shared multiphoton research resource at Cornell University (for 2-photon and in vivo imaging)