A Microscope with a Macro View

After clocking in more than 100 hours a week for seven years, the Bruker Ultima IV System microscope in the Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering at the University of PIttsburgh Swanson School of Engineering will be given a break.

Takashi D-Y Kozai, associate professor of bioengineering at the Swanson School, received a $600,000 award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to purchase a Bruker 2pPlus multiphoton microscope to handle larger project loads and support more research work at the Center and throughout the University. 

“The Bruker 2pPlus has better flexibility, light sensitivity and speed, allowing researchers to look deeper into tissues and solve more complex problems centered around the human body, like  brain diseases and disorders,” explained Kozai, who will oversee all facets of the microscope. “We’ll also be able to create a more interdisciplinary working environment – the central mission of the Center.”

The microscope will be equipped with a resonant and galvanometer-driver scan head and 4 GaAsP detectors. Kozai, an established innovator in multiphoton microscopy and advanced neurotechnology, said these additional parts can be used to measure blood flow or neural activity and simultaneous imaging. 

“The biggest advantage of this particular microscope is it provides a wider field of view,” Kozai said. “Maximizing the field of view results in a clearer image and reduces the time needed to use the microscope.”  

A committee will ensure proper training and sharing of the microscope which will be made available to anyone, including students, after completing training and for a fee. 

The Bruker 2pPlus will be installed in the Center’s shared equipment space by the end of 2024.