Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence receives £500,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation for state-of-the-art microscope
Summary
The Wolfson Foundation has awarded the funding for an ultrafast confocal spinning disc microscope The microscope can image biological processes at a speed of 2,000 frames per second for faster, higher-resolution images The team at Aston University will be led by Professor Roslyn Bill, who specialises in membrane proteins that form water channels, particularly in the brainAston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME) has received a \xa3500,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation to purchase an ultrafast confocal spinning disc microscope.This instrument will accelerate AIME research, led by Professor Roslyn Bill, into treatments for dementia and other forms of cognitive decline.An ultrafast spinning disc confocal microscope enables faster, higher-resolution images of biological processes than is currently possible at AIME. The instrument that will be bought with the grant has a scanning speed of 2,000 frames per second, the fastest in the world, using up to 1,000 laser beams as a light source.In collaboration with the University of Oxford, the team at AIME, led by Professor Bill, are developing organ-on-a-chip formats which can be viewed under the microscope to image dynamic 3D membrane biology. More broadly, as the instrument vastly improves the speed of image acquisition, it will allow the investigation of a diversity of fundamental processes that occur on very rapid timescales in live cells.In 2023, Professor Bill was awarded a 2.2m ERC Advanced Grant to understand how the movement of aquaporin-4 in brain cell membranes can help slow cognitive decline. This microscope will allow me to strengthen my collaborative partnership with Dr Mootaz Salman at the University of Oxford, who is a collaborator on my ERC Advanced Grant, and will accelerate its scientific progress.Paul Ramsbottom, chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said:Reducing cognitive decline in dementia and related conditions would bring huge benefits to the individuals affected, as well as for wider society and the economy. The study of aquaporins at Aston has already led to some intriguing discoveries, and we are delighted to help the University continue their important research with this grant.For over a century, Aston Universitys enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally.