Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Image# 5453552

The Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation has announced a $1.2 million grant to the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to buy a second-generation aberration-corrected electron microscope (one of only two in existence) from JEOL USA.

"This microscope will open up the world of science to researchers at the atomic level, much the same way that telescopes such as the Hubble opened up the universe to astronomers," says Miguel J. Yacaman, chair of UTSA's Department of Physics and Astronomy.

"Nanotechnology researchers will use the instrument to aid in research for developing new cancer therapies and treatments that combat a variety of human diseases," according to the San Antonio Business Journal.

"UTSA's microscope is slated for installation in October 2009," according to Small Times. "The instrument takes six months to fabricate and three months to install. Once up and running, researchers from across the world can send samples to UTSA, then through remote access conduct experiments without leaving their home laboratories."

More here from MySanAntonio ... and the press release is here.