The IICD community is excited to announce the addition of the Andor Dragonfly confocal microscope to its research arsenal. The state-of-the-art tool will significantly enhance the labs' capabilities in visualizing and understanding cancer biology at the cellular level, furthering IICD's mission to pioneer advancements in cancer research.
The Andor Dragonfly confocal microscope is designed to capture highly detailed images of biological samples, ranging from individual cell structures to entire organisms.
“The Dragonfly’s spinning disk confocal imaging allows us to capture 3D images of thick and thin samples alike. Its speed allows for fast acquisition in screening efforts, and imaging of larger tissue sections,” said Jellert Gaublomme, IICD Associate Member who oversees the instrument. The microscope’s additional features, such as real-time 3D visualization, rapid imaging, and integrated GPU deconvolution, make it a cutting-edge tool for scientific discovery.
The Andor Dragonfly confocal microscope will primarily be used for immunofluorescence imaging, a technique that helps researchers quantify protein and RNA levels within cells. By pinpointing the exact location of these molecules, they can better understand the roles they play in cancer development and treatment response.
The microscope will also be a game-changer for profiling tissue sections, particularly in mapping the tumor microenvironment. Tumors are composed of various cell types, and understanding how these cells are spatially organized is key to developing effective therapies. By creating detailed maps of tumors, researchers aim to reveal new insights into how immune and cancer cells interact, potentially uncovering novel therapeutic targets.
With the addition of the Andor Dragonfly microscope, IICD is poised to accelerate its research on cancer evolution and therapy response. The use of this advanced imaging tool will deepen our understanding of how cells communicate and interact within tumors, providing new pathways for innovative treatments.