Tuesday, October 24, 2006

The recently opened - Nikon Imaging Center at UCSF's Mission Bay campus – is one of only two opened in the country. It’s primarily purpose is to help the academic researchers who will be its primary users, and also be a resource for biotechnology companies. The Center combines the collection of state-of-the-art microscopes, coupled with cameras and computers, worth more than $2 million. Corporate scientists will be offered access to the microscopes for an hourly fee. In addition, the center will open certain workshops in advanced microscope skills to non-academics, possibly at no charge. Access to this center and Nikon equipment is the type of opportunity that makes the Bay Area a magnet for biotech companies, said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Nikon has set up similar centers at Harvard, Oxford, the University of Heidelberg in Germany, and Hokkaido University in Japan. And Nikon Executive Vice President Lee Shuett said, that it’s a happy joint contribution for the Nikon company. There are veteran optics companies like Zeiss, Olympus and Leica, that Nikon competes with. But according to Nikon Imaging Center director Mr. Thorn, Nikon is the only company to establish such centers. But you can decide for yourself which microscope you like the best and what company fits you the best by comparing quality, sizes and prices.