Texas Children's Hospital is first in North America to own Leica Microsystems Gated Stimulation Emission Depletion microscope

HOUSTON - (Aug. 20, 2012) - Texas Children's Hospital is the first institution in North America to acquire a Leica Microsystems Gated Stimulation Emission Depletion (G-STED) microscope. The new microscope allows researchers to take never before seen, super-resolution photos below 40 nanometers within a cell and is the only microscope in the world that can acquire images at this level of resolution from deep within cells and from within living cells. Learn more about Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology at Texas Children's Hospital.

This microscope will enable researchers at Texas Children's to see interactions that are taking place at a cellular level, within live cells, to better understand and gain new insights into congenital immune deficiencies and immune defenses which can lead to novel therapy approaches. It will also aid researchers in understanding the mechanics and interactions of viruses within a cell and provide never before gleaned detailed information about how infections occur.

"Leica's G-STED microscope allows us to have unprecedented views into the human immune system which is especially relevant in helping us explore extremely rare immune deficiencies in children," said Dr. Jordan Orange, chief of Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology and director of a new Center for Human Immunobiology at Texas Children's Hospital, as well as professor and section head for Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology in the department of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. "This microscope will empower us to obtain deep mechanistic insights into the human immune system and visually observe the ramifications when those mechanisms go wrong. This will ultimately benefit our patients as we push beyond the current treatment options and find novel therapies for a variety of illnesses by better understanding the human immune system."

Orange's research focuses on the biology of natural killer cells and the innate immune system, with a clinical focus on primary immunodeficiency disease. He has received funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as well as the United States Immunodeficiency Network to support his laboratory work.

Over the past decade, Orange has invigorated the field of human natural killer cell deficiencies in various genetic disorders. He recently collaborated with European researchers who achieved marked clinical improvements in using gene therapy to treat young children with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a rare but often severe immunodeficiency disorder. He is currently conducting clinical trials testing the use of immunotherapy to boost immune function in children with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. His use of advanced imaging technologies has enabled otherwise impossible insights into these rare diseases and overall into human immune defenses.

About Texas Children’s Hospital

Texas Children’s Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children’s has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women’s health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Center for pediatric research; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, a second community hospital planned to open in 2017. The organization also created the nation’s first HMO for children, has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country and a global health program that’s channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.