Federal Grant Award Summary

The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center received a $750,000 Project Grant from the National Institutes of Health Office of the Director under the Research Infrastructure Programs (CFDA 93.351) for the acquisition and installation of a Leica Stellaris confocal microscope. The award, dated May 1, 2026 with completion by April 30, 2027, funds the replacement of an aging 12-year-old imaging system within the institute's centrally managed core facility located in Torrance, California. The new instrument delivers advanced confocal imaging capabilities including fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) with tunable white light pulsed laser technology, multiplexing of up to 11 spectral channels, and proprietary HYD detectors with 1-nanometer spectral precision across the 400-850 nanometer range, enabling high-resolution, low-phototoxicity imaging across multiple fluorophore types.

The Stellaris system will directly support the research infrastructure needs of 12 investigators, 10 of whom are NIH-funded, conducting cross-disciplinary research spanning developmental biology, cell biology, molecular biology, cancer, endocrinology, neurobiology, immunology, and host-pathogen interactions. Beyond basic confocal functionality, the instrument includes Lightning super-resolution capabilities and adaptive deconvolution technology to facilitate quantitative imaging modalities for monitoring complex dynamic processes in both live and fixed samples. This acquisition strengthens the rigor, reproducibility, and competitiveness of NIH-supported research at the institute by providing state-of-the-art imaging technology essential for generating high-quality, multidimensional datasets and addressing increasingly complex biological questions.