Confocal microscopy for undergraduate research and education at a resource-limited university
Official title: Facilitating the Advancement of Research and Education for Undergraduate Students by Incorporating Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (FAREUS-LSCM)
Funded at University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla · NIH-11365468 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new confocal microscope will empower undergraduates at a low-income campus to do high-quality imaging for biology, neuroscience, plant pathology, and environmental research.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aguadilla, United States) |
| Project start | June 10, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $250,000 |
| NIH project number | 1S10GM164782-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365468 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient participation; this grant supports education and infrastructure for student-led research that could contribute to future patient-related work.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not the focus of this infrastructure grant.
What this research studies
This grant funds purchase of a high-end confocal laser scanning microscope to establish advanced imaging capabilities at a small, resource-limited campus serving mostly Pell Grant students. It will be integrated into core lab courses and undergraduate research, with hands-on training in sample preparation and imaging. Four active student-focused projects—parasitology, coffee biocontrol, environmental metalloprotein biomarkers, and astrocyte dysfunction in epilepsy—will benefit from high-resolution fluorescence imaging and quantitative analysis. The collaboration with an imaging core provides ongoing technical support and training to sustain use by students and faculty.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Students and faculty will gain access to cutting-edge imaging, strengthening hands-on training and potentially accelerating discoveries in health-related and agricultural research.
How similar studies have gone: Similar investments in confocal microscopy at teaching-intensive institutions have shown improved student outcomes and research productivity.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla
Aguadilla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hernandez-Vale, Omayra — University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla
- Study coordinator: Hernandez-Vale, Omayra
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.