The Cell Imaging Facility and the Nikon Imaging Center are accessible via a keycard system (NU Indala Wildcard) to users who have been trained and demonstrate the ability to use any microscopy equipment. Users with keycards may access the facility 24 hours a day. Each lab may have two keycards, if needed. If you already have an access card to the animal facility, we can also program the card for you so that you can access both facilities with the same card. Authorized users may bring associates from the same lab for observation of microscopy experiments. Any other activities, such as instrument demonstration, teaching, and facility tours, must be pre-authorized with the director, and the instrument(s) involved in such activities should be reserved for these purposes.

Training
Training for the independent use of instruments in the facility is available by appointment only and depends upon instrument availability. Users will be required to understand the basic operation procedures for any microscopes they intend to use. Every Zeiss LSM510 user should be familiar with its basic alignment and operation procedures.

Facility Access and Instrument Training Applications
New users planning to take advantages of any facility instrument should follow these procedures:
1. Contact facility staff and make an appointment to discuss experimental procedures, sample preparations, and which imaging techniques to use, if necessary.
2. Download and complete the Application Form, then e-mail it back to the facility director. Click here for form.
3. Schedule for training with facility staff.
4. Make reservation for the microscope online. Learn how to use the Northwestern Core facilities (CoreFac) online reservation system by clicking here.
5. Obtain facility access keycard after training.
6. Arrange more training sessions, if necessary.

Acknowledging the Cell Imaging Facility
It is important that the use of the Cell Imaging Facility is properly acknowledged in your publication. Acknowledgement helps us demonstrate the impact we contribute to the research community, and it helps tremendously in our future effort to secure funding to bring you even more instruments and services. So - help us help you!

Anyone who uses the facility should acknowledge the Cell Imaging Facility by including “General Acknowledgment”. If any specific equipment was used, they should ADD the corresponding paragraph that matches the instrument.

General acknowledgment
Imaging work was performed at the Northwestern University Cell Imaging Facility generously supported by NCI CCSG P30 CA060553 awarded to the Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Zeiss PALM
Microdissection was performed on Zeiss PALM laser catapulting microdissection system purchased with the support of NCRR 1S10RR025624-01

Olympus IV-100
Intravital imaging was performed on Olympus IV-100 purchased with the support of NCRR 1S10 RR023707-01

For example, if a user uses the PALM system, then the acknowledgment should read:
Imaging work was performed at the Northwestern University Cell Imaging Facility generously supported by CCSG P30 CA060553 awarded to the Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. Microdissection was performed on Zeiss PALM microdissection system purchased with the support of NCRR 1S10RR025624-01.

Users should also send a PDF copy of the papers they publish to me. Every PDF paper you submit to us (with acknowledgement of the facility) will earn your lab a free hour of instrument use – any instrument of your choice!

Northwestern University Core Facilities (CoreFac) Online Reservation System

The CoreFac System (click here for access) is a university-wide online reservation and billing system. Hourly charges for instrument use at the Nikon Imaging Center will be automatically billed according to the time scheduled on the CoreFac. We have a 24 hour cancelation policy for reservations- if you cannot make your appointment, please cancel 24 hrs in advance so that your account is not charged.

 

Do not call the facility and ask any of our staff to look for your lab mate here. The Imaging Center covers a large areas with many rooms. The facility staff members are usually busy assisting/training users and do not have time to run through 16 rooms to locate someone for you. Please kindly be considerate.