Förklaring:

The Centre for Cellular Imaging (CCI) is a multimodal advanced microscopy facility that provides technical and scientific excellence by the integration of multiple imaging technologies, together with image processing and analysis tools, in a single core multi-user facility.

The CCI is part of the Core Facilities (CF) organization that offers advanced tools in bioinformatics, microscopy, genomics, proteomics, and mammalian protein production and provides a single point for broad-based cutting-edge life science technologies. The main mission of the CCI is to provide state-of-the-art instrumentation and highly specialized technical, scientific competence to a growing number of scientists in Sweden and abroad. These include scientific collaborators and external researchers from academic institutions as well as from industry that want to use advanced microscopy techniques, but do not own, operate, and maintain the required instruments themselves.

The LSM 780 (purchased 2012, attached to the ELYRA PS.1 microscope), is an important system for CCI allowing users to obtain qualitative and quantitative information about cells and individual molecules, supporting sensitivity demanding applications in life sciences, as fluorescent correlation spectroscopy. However, it is outdated in terms of sensitivity, speed and running costs and is no longer suitable for future upgrades and new service contracts (Carl Zeiss has discontinued the 780 scanhead). By replacing the existing LSM 780 scanhead with a new fully compatible scanhead, the CCI will be able to offer the researchers an updated, modern, more versatile live cell/functional microscopy system. The updated system will offer higher sensitivity, enhanced 3D resolution, and higher image-acquisition speed, which also integrates Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy. The most important feature of the scanhead replacement is that the new scanhead must be intended for, or fully compatible with, the Elyra PS.1.

The only fully compatible scanhead for the Elyra PS.1 is the LSM 980 Multiplex Modes for Airyscan 2 from Carl Zeiss.

CCI has not found any other laser confocal scanhead on the market. It is therefore unsuitable to openly request for tenders. Therefore, and according to chapter 6, § 14 p.2 in the Swedish public procurement act, the CCI at the University of Gothenburg intends to award the contract to Carl Zeiss for the purchase of one (1) LSM 980 Multiplex scanhead.