A new state of the art microscope could help London-based scientists find new treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and breast cancer.
CIBC donated $240,000 to the St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation, which then used the money to buy a Nikon A1R confocal microscope for scientists at Lawson Health Research Institute, St. Joseph’s research arm.
“Tools like the confocal microscope act as a bridge between our clinics and the research lab,” said Dr. Jeremy Burton, Lawson’s chair of human microbiome and probiotics. “It enables scientists and physicians to collaborate on new therapies and develop a better understanding of disease.”
The microscope produces high-resolution photos of cells, with cellular structures, markers, and morphology all showing in a single shot. The state of the art technology allows scientists to simultaneously see through the cells at different depths and the high-tech analytical software allows them to generate three-dimensional (3D) rendered models for further study.
Burton, in collaboration with surgical oncologist and Medical Director of St. Joseph’s Breast Care Program Dr. Muriel Brackstone, have already used the microscope to observe the internalization between probiotic bacteria and special types of immune cells as part of a study into a new breast cancer treatment. The findings of that study will be published in the near future and could reveal new insights into the future of breast cancer treatment, according to St. Joseph’s Health Care.
“I am so grateful for CIBC’s donation, which has given scientists at St. Joseph’s access to first-rate medical research equipment to conduct clinical trials that answer important scientific questions and ultimately improve patient outcomes,” said Brackstone.
Lawson was the first research institute in Canada to install a confocal microscope.
