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A New Prototype for Imaging Core Facilities


Award Imaging Scientist

Funding Cycle Cycle 1

Investigator

Mark Scimone, PhD

Boston Children's Hospital (Cellular Imaging Core)

Bio

Dr. Scimone’s expertise is in biomedical optics and custom image analysis. During graduate school at Brown University, where his thesis focused on 3D in-vitro models of traumatic brain injury, he utilized various fluorescent and label-free microscopy techniques, as well as sophisticated custom-written image processing workflows. Prior to joining Boston Children’s Hospital, he worked as a principal scientist at Physical Sciences Inc., designing and testing novel multimodal optical systems for fields ranging from neuroscience to oncology, including techniques such as optical coherence tomography, structured illumination, and confocal and multiphoton microscopy. He continued to develop his image analysis expertise during this time, incorporating machine learning into his repertoire. As the Assistant Director of the Cellular Imaging Core at Boston Children’s Hospital, he consults on the relevant and unique microscopy methods used in advanced imaging and how well-designed image analysis can complement these methods.

Project Description

There needs to be a new prototype of what the standard service imaging core can be. Such facilities do not need to compete with cores devoted to custom instrumentation, nor must they solely rely on box-commercial systems. To achieve this prototype, Dr. Scimone will 1) facilitate tight-knit collaborations between cores, researchers, and microscopy vendors; 2) hold structured microscopy and optics education courses introducing new research technology or approaches; and 3) recruit new talent into imaging core management. Lastly, for microscopy education to be best applied and pervasive, he will facilitate the education of core staff scientists via inter-core collaborations and exchanges.

Alumnus Investigator

Cvic Innocent, PhD

Boston Children's Hospital (Cellular Imaging Core)

Bio

Dr. Innocent’s expertise is in the testing and diagnostics of customized microscopy instrumentation. Her journey in imaging started in graduate school at Cornell University, where her thesis focused on vesicular trafficking dynamics in fly synapses. She then finished a postdoc at Oxford University, where her research centered on the application of reversible-switchable fluorescent proteins for use in non-linear SIM. Routinely using, creating and customizing computational tools to better quantify images is why she enjoys explaining the fundamentals of nontraditional microscopy.

Dr. Innocent was awarded the Imaging Scientist grant while working as the Assistant Director of the Cellular Imaging Core and research associate at the Harvard Medical School, where she consulted on the relevant and unique light microscopy methods used in advanced imaging until early 2021. She is now considered an alumnus of the CZI Imaging Scientist Program.