Kirksville expands its scientific resources

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. (Nov. 2, 2008 ) – New resources for Kirksville’s expanding scientific community now includes a confocal fluorescent microscope in the newly constructed core imaging facility located in the Timken-Burnett Research Building at A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Faculty and student researchers from ATSU-KCOM and Truman State University are already taking advantage of the state-of-the-art microscope, which allows for two-dimensional views of a cell and cellular function and can reconstruct layers to create a three-dimensional image.

High-resolution imaging allows researchers to look at movements of proteins and vesicles in cells which will lead to a better understanding of the regulation of cellular processes and signaling pathways. “This is the key advantage of confocal microscopy,” says facility committee chair Robert Theobald, Ph.D. “An image of a narrow slice can be captured, eliminating background fluorescence from above and below the slice. Images of a series of a slice can then be reconstructed to create a three-dimensional image.”

In celebration of the community’s expanding scientific resources, ATSU-KCOM is hosting an open house at the core imaging facility on Friday, November 7 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. ATSU President Jack Magruder and KCOM Dean Philip Slocum, D.O., will address the audience. Light refreshments will be served, and members of the local scientific community are invited to attend. Anyone associated with ATSU-KCOM or Truman State University may schedule to use the confocal microscope by emailing ATSU’s Core Imaging Technician David Ewing, at dewing@atsu.edu, or the Core Imaging Director David Middlemas, Ph.D., at dmiddkemas@atsu.edu.