Expertise
Imaging Platforms
Keywords - Light Microscopy: Superresolution microscopy, Live cell imaging, Gated-STED, Light-sheet microscopy (SPIM), Confocal microscopy, Widefield microscopy, TIRF, Multi-photon microscopy, CW-STED, Structured Illumination Microscopy
Brightfield & wide field
Nikon: NiE & TiE
Leica: DM6 & DMi8
Zeiss: AxioImager Z2 Apotome, AxioObserver Z1, Examiner Z1
High-Content
Zeiss: CD7 with robot autoloader & incubation
Nikon: A1r+ (confocal) with JOBS
Slide scanning
Zeiss: AxioScan 7
Confocal
Nikon: A1+ (upright & inverted)
Leica: SP8 (DLS), SP8-STED 3X (white-light laser)
Zeiss: LSM 880 AiryScan (upright & inverted) with UV excitation, LSM 800
Super resolution
VisiTech: iSIM
Zeiss: LSM 800 & 880 AiryScan fast
Nikon: N-STORM & N-SIM
Leica: SP8-STED 3X
Light Sheet
Leica: SP8-DLS
Time-lapse
Long-term: Sartourius Incucyte SX5
Multi-photon
Zeiss: LSM880-NLO (680 nm-1300 nm)
Stereo
Nikon: SMZ-25 (fluorescence & colour)
Leica: M205 (fluorescence & colour)
All of our microscope systems are quality controlled in line with the recommendations being developed by the QUAREP-LiMi (Quality Assessment & Reproducibility for Instruments and Images in Light Microscopy) organisation.
Application
Keywords - Biological: Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Plant Biology, C.elegans, Microbiology, Histology/Pathology, Neurobiology, Immunobiology, Zebrafish, Drosophila, Bio-materials
KEYWORDS - PHYSICAL SCIENCES: NANOMATERIALS
The facility provides access to routine (widefield, bright field & confocal), advanced (multi-photon, super resolution & light sheet) and high-throughput (high content and automated imaging live imaging) microscopy techniques. Many of our systems are capable of imaging both fixed and live samples from sub-second through to multiple-day timescales.
All users of the facility can make use of our OMERO+ image management platform to organise, annotate, share and analyse their data. In addition, through remote access to our high-spec image analysis servers, we offer remote access to both commercial and open-source image analysis software.
We work closely with colleagues in the in vivo imaging, XPS and EM facilities at Newcastle University to develop correlative imaging and analysis techniques across scales. We also collaborate with colleagues in the Flow Cytometry and bioinformatics core facilities to provide access to multiplexed and spatial transcriptomic imaging technologies respectively.
Samply Preparation
Keywords - Biological: Immunofluorescence, Immunolabelling, Live cell
Although we can advise on sample preparation, we able to provide limited lab facilities and space. It is expected that users of the facility prepare their samples elsewhere. For live-cell imaging, we are able to provide local facilities for tissue culture prior to imaging.
Data Analysis
keywords - software: ImageJ, Imaris, Huygens, AxioVision, Fiji, Matlab, Volocity
Cell Profiler, Ilastik, Matlab, R, Zeiss Zen, Nikon Elements, Leica LAS-X
keywords - hardware: LIGHT Microscopy, Confocal microscopy, Super resolution microscopy, Widefield microscopy, Incucyte, AiryScan, High Content Imaging, Spinning Disk Confocal Microscopy, Multiphoton Microscopy, Image analysis, Deconvolution
All users of the facility can make use of our OMERO+ image management platform to organise, annotate, share and analyse their data. In addition, through remote access to our high-spec image analysis servers, we offer remote access to both commercial and open-source image analysis software. The facility has two dedicated image analysis specialists who can support many commercial and open-source image analysis software packages. They can also develop custom analysis pipelines and scripts.
Shared Access Overview
Our facilities can be accessed by both internal and external academic researchers as well as for commercial projects. Access can be on one of three levels: unsupervised (once trained), part-supervised, contract (we do the imaging). Our team of specialists can provide advice on all aspects of microscopy from experimental design through to image analysis.
Funding Overview
The facility is funded through TRAC-costed hourly access charges which are partially subsidised by the University.
Our equipment has been funded by grants from the following organisations: Newcastle University, Wellcome Trust, MRC & BBSRC