3D Whole Organ Mapping Service
LifeCanvas Technologies provides exceptional quality whole brain mapping services to meet your neuroscience goals and advance your research projects. We possess extensive, in-house expertise in tissue processing and state-of-the-art image analysis methods for complex, information-rich datasets. In addition we offer robust molecular phenotyping pipelines for neural activity (mapping and quantifying cFOS+ cells), Alzheimer’s disease (analyzing β-amyloid deposition) and Parkinson’s disease (analyzing α-synuclein Lewy Bodies), and neural inflammation (labeling IBA1 for microglia and GFAP for astrocytes). We also provide custom services based on user needs for cells tagged with endogenously expressed or transfected fluorescent markers (e.g. GFPs and RFPs) and for other selected targets. Please send inquiries to: science@lifecanvastech.com or fill out the CRO request form below.
Featured Applications
Neural functional activity mapping service: c-FOS labeling and imaging
LifeCanvas has perfected technology to label and image c-FOS+ cells throughout the CNS. Furthermore, we also offer robust models for detecting c-FOS+ cells in murine brain samples to provide customers with cell counts, densities, and heatmaps quantifying levels of regional neural activity registered to the Allen brain atlas. If you are interested in running a pilot trial or a comprehensive cohort-level study, please complete the details of your project via the CRO request form.
Neurological disorder phenotyping via mapping of associated protein aggregates (e.g. ß-amyloid, α-synuclein)
Researchers have developed transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s that provide the neuroscience community with important tools to study disease progression and to explore potential therapies. LifeCanvas offers researchers the opportunity to process and analyze samples for β-amyloid deposition and for the accumulation of α-synuclein in Lewy Bodies. Images are registered to the Allen brain atlas and levels of protein aggregation determined for regionally specific brain areas.
Right: β-amyloid in magenta and astrocytes (GFAP) in cyan (Mouse brain sample courtesy of Dr. Jonathan Epp lab, University of Calgary). Scale bar 100 µm.
Brain samples expressing endogenous fluorescent markers (e.g. GFPs and RFPs) and other custom services
LifeCanvas Technologies contract research services enable researchers the opportunity to have brain samples cleared and imaged for endogenous fluorescent markers tagging select cells and processes. For transgenic mice with endogenous reporters or for samples labeled via viral transfection, we can offer detection and analyses of labeled cell counts, densities, and heatmaps registered to the Allen brain atlas.
For custom projects, our sample immunolabeling technology is versatile and can be applied to common neuroscience biomarkers such as PV, NeuN, GFAP, IBA1, TH, ChAT, MBP, and nuclear stains. We also have extensive experience with other mammalian vital organs (e.g. lungs, pancreas, kidneys, intestines) and other types of sample including organoids and tumors. Please contact us at science@lifecanvastech.com to find out more.
Frequently Asked Questions
We can typically complete projects with pre-validated targets for processing and imaging within 4-5 weeks with an additional 1-2 weeks for analysis depending on the complexity of the project and the number of samples.
Our SHIELD tissue transformation method provides exceptional preservation of endogenous fluorescence reporters (e.g. GFPs and RFPs) from transgenic mouse lines or from labeling through viral transfection.
All you will need to do is to provide PFA-fixed samples. We will send you the suggested protocol and shipping instructions and then take care of the rest.
We will provide a summary of representative images, stacks of all raw image files, and if requested, analysis outputs (including spreadsheets, heatmaps and graphical outputs). We can also offer higher magnification (x15) imaging from our SmartSpim lightsheet microscope for selected ROI.
Interested? Our science team would love to hear from you. Please email science@lifecanvastech.com or complete the CRO Service Request form.
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