Joining 17 other centers across the world, Florida Atlantic’s Brain Institute is the first center in the southeast to be named a Nikon Center of Excellence.

University president John Kelly, president and chief executive officer of Nikon Instruments Inc. Toshiaki Nagano and the institute’s executive director Randy Blakely recognized the center’s achievements on Thursday, according to a university press release.

“We are very pleased to be opening the first Nikon Center of Excellence in the southeast,” said Nagano. “This strategic partnership between FAU and Nikon represents a commitment to accelerating advancements in neuroscience, which is this center’s area of expertise.”

The Jupiter institute is now one of only seven centers in the U.S. that has received the distinction.

The Nikon Center of Excellence is a partnership with select research centers that invest in providing young researchers with access to high-end imaging technology.

“The establishment of a Nikon Center of Excellence at FAU brings a new level of imaging capability to our scientists and trainees, and links our community to prominent cell imaging centers at premier academic institutions and research centers around the world,” said Blakely.

The ceremony took place on the Boca Raton campus in front of more than 300 FAU community members.

“FAU is undergoing rapid development as a center of world-class research, due in part to our innovative partnerships with leading global companies such as Nikon,” said Kelly. “It is exciting to anticipate the new frontiers our faculty and students will cross with access to this state-of-the-art technology.”

Benjamin Paley is a contributing writer with the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @benpaley92.