DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Modern biomedical research requires detection of biomolecules with high sensitivity. Moreover the quantitation of biochemical interactions requires a high dynamic range or linearity of measured response over many orders of magnitude. These requirements apply to research involving experimental techniques that vary greatly including microarrays cell culture trays high throughput screening microtiter plates ELISA plates gels blots and storage phosphors. Fortunately instrumentation platforms exist which can provide sensitive optical measurements for a variety of formats. Further these instruments maintain a linear response over several (up to five) orders of magnitude with either fine or coarse spatial resolution. Meeting these difficult demands allows research to push forward in a timely but fundamentally quantitative manner. The main aim of this grant seeks to advance scanning/imaging capabilities at the University of Arizona by showcasing several funded research programs requiring scanning and imaging technology. Several similar machines have existed on campus and have been used frequently. However of the two remaining one is nine years old non-functional and located on the far side of campus. The other machine belongs to Prof. Roy Parker and will be leaving with him to another university in July 2012. The proposal aims to replace the aging machine with a modern one with three new lasers (red green & blue) and updated sensitivity.