UNC Pembroke Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy Facility

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 and the Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations Act for 2014 allocated $10.7M to assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) and to enhance their research and education capabilities in scientific areas relevant to the defense mission. The FY 2014 program supports the acquisition of research equipment and instrumentation to augment existing capabilities and to develop new capabilities that will facilitate greater participation in DoD research programs and encourage more students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The proposed equipment is needed to strengthen biomedical research at University of North Carolina at Pembroke by enhancing the UniversityÕs existing Sample Preparation and Microscopy Facility with the capability of laser scanning confocal microscopy and image capture. The existing microscopy facility does not have the imaging and resolution capabilities needed to effectively analyze early cytoskeletal damage and associated synaptic deterioration, or to conduct live cell/intracellular organelle work to determine cellular changes in different disease states. Dr. BahrÕs research is leading to the development of new pharmaceutical treatments for AlzheimerÕs disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases, including brain damage/trauma. The age-related disorder AD is an impending epidemic, with serious health and cost of care implications for Army veterans. The powerful imaging of the Nikon C2 system is needed to assess the impacts of novel compounds on complex biological states. This will enable the Bahr lab to be more productive in this critical area of research, support current Army collaborations on blast injury and support the research of other UNCP STEM faculty. The equipment will strengthen the research training capacity of UNCP. Faculty are dedicated to meeting the academic needs of minority students including mentoring 25-30 undergraduates per semester in mentored biomedical research and independent research studies. The new equipment will further support UNCP undergraduate students to engage in cutting edge research and acquire the skills and experience to prepare them for graduate programs and research careers in DOD-relevant areas.