The Duke Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility (SMIF) has a Technai 20 TEM (FEI Company) located in room 1549 of the Fitzpatrick Bldg. (CIEMAS). This instrument is available for use by researchers across the university and medical center.
The DUMC Pathology Department EM facility (Pathology EM) has Philips TEMs that are also available for outside use. In addition, they will gladly process samples for you (embedding, thin sectioning, negative staining, immunostaining, TEM, etc.). This facility is an excellent option for researchers with a few samples and little time for training.
Biology users are responsible for preparing their samples prior to viewing on the TEM. SMIF personnel cannot provide training or assistance with specimen preparation.
Dr. Sara Miller at the Pathology EM facility (saram@duke.edu, 684-3452) offers training in general TEM specimen preparation, sectioning, staining and microscope operation. When demand is sufficient, she offers a course during the first summer school session; she will also train users as Independent Study students at other times of the year.
Biology labs which have worked with TEM in the past may be able to provide small quantities of supplies such as fixatives and resins.
Two AO/Reichert Ultracut E43 microtomes are available in the Biology Dept.: one is currently located in the Benfy lab (room 4128) in the FFSC, the other is in the Pryer lab in BioSci. Spare diamond knives are stored in the SEM lab.
The Department of Biology has periodic access to a Leica EM Pact high pressure freezer, which is shared between the Kiehart lab (Biology) and the Costello lab (UNC-CH). To check on availablility of this instrument, you may contact Dr. Dan Kiehart (dkiehart@duke.edu).
Feel free to contact Leslie Eibest (leibest@duke.edu, 684-2547) for help.