Coherent Raman Scattering (CRS) Microscope - Project Summary The Coherent Raman Scattering (CRS) multimodal microscope combines Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS), Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS), Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM), multiphoton microscopy (MP), Second Harmonic Generation (SHG), and confocal microscopy into a single commercial platform. The addition of vibrational spectroscopies (SRS/CARS) enables label-free, high-resolution chemical imaging and provides real-time visualization of lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, small molecules, and biomaterials without the need for dyes or destructive sample preparation. The microscope will be housed in a shared, open-access technology center, expanding to users across Southern California. Major users include NIH-funded investigators studying cancer metabolism, neurodegeneration, regenerative ophthalmology, lipid homeostasis, drug delivery, and stem cell biology. Specific applications include label-free tracking of lipid trafficking in cardiovascular disease, monitoring metabolic flux and acetyl-CoA dynamics, and 3D mapping of limbal stem cell niches for developing therapies against corneal blindness. Additional NIH-funded projects will leverage this platform to investigate glycolysis-gluconeogenesis oscillations, drug–nanoparticle interactions, metalloprotein activity, and label-free biofilm characterization in infectious disease models. Access to this advanced vibrational imaging system will significantly enhance the technical capabilities of multiple interdisciplinary research programs, accelerate the development of personalized diagnostics and therapies, and facilitate training in state-of-the-art imaging methods to a wide research audience. With the overall goal to provide critical infrastructure for advanced biomedical imaging which translates fundamental discoveries into innovations benefiting public health, The CRS microscope will fill a critical instrumentation gap in the western United States. In providing a unique combination of chemical and spectral sensitivity, depth penetration, and imaging speed not currently available in shared-use facilities, its label-free detection of lipids, metabolites, and proteins enables a transformative approach to studying dynamic biological processes in disease models. This instrument will catalyze translational advances in regenerative medicine, cancer diagnostics, metabolic disease, and pharmacology, directly supporting NIH’s mission to foster innovative research and improve human health.
