The UF College of Medicine proudly announces that Dr. Matthew Sarkisian, Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience, has been selected as one of two distinguished recipients of the 2025 Research Equipment Seed Fund (RESF) award, a highly competitive program supporting innovative acquisition or development of high-impact research tools. This year, 12 awards were granted across the UF campus from 86 proposals.
Dr. Sarkisian’s pioneering research investigates the dynamic interactions between glioblastoma tumors and their surrounding environment, particularly focusing on how these tumors interact with neurons and immune cells. His lab centers on primary cilia, which are tiny cellular structures that may play a critical role in tumor growth and resistance to treatment.
With RESF support, Dr. Sarkisian’s lab will acquire a next-generation Zeiss imaging system equipped with AI capabilities. This state-of-the-art microscope enables long-term, three-dimensional, high-resolution imaging of live cells, allowing the lab to visualize how glioma cells integrate with neurons and immune cells over time. The system’s embedded AI tools will accelerate sample detection and image analysis.
This enhanced imaging technology will empower Dr. Sarkisian’s research to observe previously undetectable cellular interactions in real time. The insights gained may pave the way for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for glioblastoma.
“This is something I’ve been wanting to do for years,” Sarkisian said. “Transforming our imaging capabilities will let us see details we couldn’t before.”
Moreover, the new imaging system will be available to the broader research community through the McKnight Brain Institute’s imaging core, furthering collaborative neuroscience efforts across campus.