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VCU Massey Cancer Center

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Microscopy Shared Resource

Mission

The Microscopy Shared Resource (MSR) provides researchers with the equipment and expertise to examine subcellular details at high resolution by both light and electron microscopy and the ability to perform quantitative image analysis. Staff is available for consultation, instruction, assistance, and collaboration.

Services

Massey members pay 75 percent of these rates per the member subsidy program.

Facility

To use the MSR facility, investigators must submit a VCU Microscopy Facility Use Authorization form [PDF] and be trained by MSR staff. Training sessions are arranged by contacting the director, Tytus Bernas at tytus.bernas@vcuhealth.org or (804) 828-0949. Advice is available on a number of microscopy techniques including immunocytochemistry, live cell imaging, FRET, FRAP, and image analysis.

Signup for Equipment reservations using the VCU Resource Scheduler. Signup Instructions are available if you need assistance using the VCU CORES resource scheduler.

Microscopy Facility Rules 

COVID-19 update

Facility Fees

Below are the some of rates for VCU investigators. View the full price list.

EQUIPMENTSERVICE
FEES
Transmission Electron Microscopy

Processing: Plastic embedding of tissue, pellets
Processing: Plastic embedding of plates
Processing: Plastic embedding of vibratome sections
Sectioning: Thick sections (0.5 - 1 mm), 1 slide
Sectioning: Thin sections, 5 grids per block
Sectioning: Thin sections - formvar grids, 5 grids
Remounting of samples
Staining of grids
Ultramicrotomy - 1h Training session

$25/ea.
30/ea.
30/ea.
11/ea.
35/ea.
50/ea.
3/ea.
25
74
Scanning Electron Microscopy Tissue Processing: Critical Point Drying
HMDS
Gold coating of samples (up to 6 per run)		 35/run
16/ea.
6/ea.
Electron Microscopy
(TEM and SEM)		 Technician time
Electron Microscopes – beam time
Training		 59/hr.
42/hr.
101/hr.

Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy

(Ziess LSM 880)

 Assisted use
Unassisted use (Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-6 p.m.)
Unassisted use (Mon.-Fri., 6 p.m.-12 a.m., Sat.-Sun.)
Training		 86/hr.
27/hr.
17/hr.
86/hr.
Structured Illuminatino Microscopy Assisted use
Unassisted use (Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-6 p.m.)
Unassisted use (Mon.-Fri., 6 p.m.-12 a.m., Sat.-Sun.)
Training		 82/hr.
23/hr.
13/hr.
82/hr.
Spinning Disc Confocal Microscopy Assisted use
Unassisted use (Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-6 p.m.)
Unassisted use (Mon.-Fri., 6 p.m.-12 a.m., Sat.-Sun.)
Training

66/hr.
7/hr.
6/hr.
66/hr.
Neurolucida system Assisted use
Unassisted use
Training		 65/hr.
6/hr.
65/hr.
Cryostat & Vibratome Unassisted use
Assisted use 		 4/hr.
63/hr. 

Massey member subsidy benefit

Massey subsidizes 25 percent of the cost of members’ core laboratory usage for the following Massey-supported, fee-for-service shared resources:

  • Flow Cytometry Shared Resource
  • VCU Lipidomics/Metabolomics Shared Resource
  • Structural Biology Shared Resource
  • Tissue and Data Acquisition and Analysis Core
  • Transgenic/Knock-out Mouse Facility Shared Resource
  • Microscopy Shared Resource

To receive this member benefit, please initiate core lab services using a VCU index code associated with your name. When you are billed for core laboratory usage, the Rams FORCE system will automatically split the invoice between your index code and a Massey account established for this purpose. You will be charged 75 percent of the published rate and Massey will provide a 25 percent co-pay to cover the balance. Please direct any questions or concerns about the member subsidy benefit to Paul Fawcett, Ph.D. at pfawcett@vcu.edu or (804) 833-1959.

Contact information

VCU Microscopy Facility 
Department of Anatomy and Neurology
VCU School of Medicine 
1101 East Marshall Street
Box 980709
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0709
(804) 828-0949 

Microscopy Facility Personnel

Tytus Bernas, Ph.D.
Facility director
(804) 828-0949
tytus.bernas@vcuhealth.org

Terry Smith
Electron Microscopy
(804) 827-2141
terry.smith@vcuhealth.org 

Frances White
Light Microscopy
(804) 828-9366
frances.white@vcuhealth.org

 

Citation

All publications that include results, services or products generated by VCU Massey Cancer Center Shared Resources must include the following acknowledgement in the manuscript:

"Services and products in support of the research project were generated by the Microscopy Shared Resource, supported, in part, with funding from NIH-NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA016059."

PubMed Central (PMC) ID numbers are required for those publications that use CCSG-supported shared resources. All of Massey Cancer Center's shared resources are supported by the CCSG.

 

Resources 

Software resources:

Microscopy-related resources: