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Carlucci, a Democrat from the Rockland/Westchester area, said in a statement that he had a chance to see a demonstration of the a Zeiss LSM 880 Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope and Leica LMD7000 – Laser Capture Microdissection System on Dec. 9. He met with Dr. Ralph Nixon and other scientists at the New York State Office for Mental Health's Nathan Kline Institute's Center for Dementia Research.
The microscope costs about $500,000 and the micromidsection system costs about $150,000. Carlucci helped get state funding for the equipment, he said.
The Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope allows neuroscience researchers the unprecedented ability to study live skin cells from a patient diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Carlucci said. The Laser Capture Microdissection system is used to magnify, isolate and map out individual genes for further study by scientists.
Carlucci said about 5.3 million people age 65 and older live with Alzheimer's in the United States. By 2050, it is projected that number will grow to 13.8 million.
“With this investment, the Nathan Kline Institute will continue to be a leader in Alzheimer's disease and neuroscience research in New York," Carlucci said.
Dixon said the institute has already led the way in pioneering research for Alzheimer's therapy. He thanked Carlucci for the support.
"The two new microscopes with state-of-the-art technology acquired through Senator Carlucci’s advocacy and support enable unprecedented exploration of the brain at the level of single neurons as they develop Alzheimer’s disease, which will ensure NKI’s continued scientific leadership toward the goal of a world without Alzheimer’s disease,” he said.
For more details on the Center for Dementia Research, visit the website. For more on the Nathan Kline Institute, click here.
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