Contact: Lucia Lee
Mount Sinai Press Office
917-837-8914
lucia.lee@mountsinai.org
(NEW YORK, NY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020) – Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Leica Microsystems, Inc. have combined efforts to establish the Leica Microsystems Center of Excellence at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The new Center will support a mission to drive new discoveries and insights from scientific research performed using state-of-the-art imaging systems. A virtual ceremony took place today to mark the occasion.
The Center of Excellence features cutting-edge confocal and widefield microscopy technology such as Leica SP8 STED nanoscopy imaging, allowing researchers to capture images and video of the cellular and molecular processes of life.
“The new partnership between Mount Sinai’s Microscopy and Advanced Bioimaging Core and Leica will ensure that we can meet the growing demand for novel microscopy-based instruments and strategies,” says Deanna Benson, PhD, Director of the Microscope and Advanced Bioimaging Core and Leica Microsystems Center of Excellence in Microscopy at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Our partnership will also allow a free exchange of information between Leica’s application scientists and Mount Sinai’s Core facility scientists crucial for developing novel imaging strategies customized to address the wide-ranging research questions–from mechanisms of viral infection and cancer progression to cognition, stress and pain–posed by our research community.“
“With this agreement, we’re enabling researchers at Icahn School of Medicine to push beyond boundaries of what can be visualized and quantified and fulfilling Leica Microsystems’ mission to provide unrivaled insight for our customers,” said Greg Eppink, General Manager, Microscopy, Leica Microsystems Americas. “We look forward to continuing this exciting alliance for years to come – it’s an honor to serve the future of scientific research in collaboration with this top-tier institution.”
“At Leica Microsystems we are actively seeking to collaborate with leading research institutions. Icahn School of Medicine scientists are world-renowned and their dedication to advancing our understanding of the mechanisms of life is truly inspiring,” said Douglas Giszczynski, Director of Academic Programs, Leica Microsystems Americas. “We at Leica Microsystems are proud that they have chosen us as collaborators on this road to discovery.”
The Center of Excellence will provide valuable feedback necessary to drive innovation in software, systems and workflow solutions while informing the applications and advanced imaging and analysis techniques of tomorrow. This supports the Leica Microsystems leitmotif of “with the user, for the user,” established by Ernst Leitz I, the entrepreneur who led the business to world renown. For 170 years, Leica Microsystems has helped shape the future and continues to do so today with its latest digital innovations enabling new insights for research, medical, and industrial applications.
The opening ceremony will be followed by virtual seminars on September 23 and 24, presented by prominent Mount Sinai researchers discussing imaging applications. Socially-distanced hands-on and virtual demonstrations of the imaging systems will be available to researchers following the seminars.
About Leica Microsystems
Leica Microsystems develops and manufactures microscopes and scientific instruments for the analysis of microstructures and nanostructures. Widely recognized for optical precision and innovative technology, the company is one of the market leaders in compound and stereo microscopy, digital microscopy, confocal laser scanning and super-resolution microscopy with related imaging systems, electron microscopy sample preparation, and surgical microscopy.
Leica Microsystems has six major plants and product development sites located in Wetzlar and Mannheim (Germany), Vienna (Austria), Heerbrugg (Switzerland), Morrisville (USA), and Singapore. The company is represented in over 100 countries, has sales and service organizations in 20 countries, and an international network of distribution partners. Its headquarters are located in Wetzlar, Germany. Leica Microsystems is part of Danaher.
About the Mount Sinai Health System
The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City’s largest academic medical system, encompassing eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai is a national and international source of unrivaled education, translational research and discovery, and collaborative clinical leadership ensuring that we deliver the highest quality care—from prevention to treatment of the most serious and complex human diseases. The Health System includes more than 7,200 physicians and features a robust and continually expanding network of multispecialty services, including more than 400 ambulatory practice locations throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report‘s “Honor Roll” of the Top 20 Best Hospitals in the country and the Icahn School of Medicine as one of the Top 20 Best Medical Schools in country. Mount Sinai Health System hospitals are consistently ranked regionally by specialty by U.S. News & World Report.
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