Microscopy
Overview
The BCI microscopy facility was opened in April 2009, bringing together our most sophisticated microscopes into a newly refurbished part of the building. The facility is located on the ground floor of the John Vane Science Centre at the Charterhouse Square site.
Price Information:
Prices listed for each facility are for external users of the microscopes. Internal Barts Cancer Institute staff should consult the Intranet for prices.
Training:
Training is compulsory for all microscopes in the Imaging Suite and new users must contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for this.
Unsupervised use will only be permitted after the potential user can demonstrate their ability to use the microscope safely.
Confocal Microscopy
We have two laser scanning confocal microscopes in the Imaging suite: Zeiss LSM 510 META and a Zeiss LSM 710. Both are equipped with four lasers with wavelengths of:
- 405nm
- 488nm
- 543nm
- 633nm
The pinhole diaphragm located in front of each detector ensures the production of a true optical section through the specimen as only features in the plane of focus are collected by the detector. By imaging a number of overlapping slices throughout the specimen, the 3dimensional structure of a specimen can be viewed, processed and analysed.
Both our confocal microscopes are fitted with an incubation chamber, allowing users to perform live imaging experiments that can be recorded as a time series.
Pricing
The charge for the use of this microscope is
- £25 per hour for external users.
Ariol System
Our Ariol system from Genetix allows automated imaging of up to 9 slides. Comprising an Olympus microscope, camera and Ariol software, this system is used for the scanning and quantification of immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence. The main application is the collection and analysis of data from Tissue Microarrays including those stained by fluorescence in situ hybridisation. Nuclear, cytoplasmic and membranous markers can be distinguished and positive staining can be quantified in terms of intensity, size and number of positive events.
Pricing
The charge for the use of this microscope is:
- £20 per hour for external users
- £60 for a session for external users
Available sessions are:
- 9am-1pm,
- 1pm–5pm
- 5pm-overnight.
P.A.L.M. Laser Microdissection
Our P.A.L.M. Microbeam system is available for the microdissection and capture of specified regions from tissue samples for subsequent extraction of DNA, RNA or protein.
The system works by a process of laser dissection, followed by pressure catapulting.
A UV-A laser first cuts along a predefined line to separate a selected area from unwanted material. A laser pulse then delivers mechanical force to the sample, catapulting the specimen towards a collection vessel. This provides non-contact sample handling.
Samples can be collected from paraffin-embedded sections, frozen sections or cultured cells. Potential users should be aware that specially coated slides and collection tubes are required for this system.
Both brightfield and fluorescence options are available as our system is equipped with an X-Cite light source.
Pricing
The charge for the use of this microscope is:
- £20 per hour for external users
- £60 for a session for external users
Available sessions are:
- 9am-1pm,
- 1pm–5pm
- 5pm-overnight.
Time Lapse
Our time lapse system comprises a Zeiss Axiovert 200M fluorescence microscope, a camera and a motorised stage.
The main application for this microscope is the sequential imaging of multiple, pre-determined locations in a culture plate over a period of time. Scratch assays are commonly imaged to compare the effect of different treatments in individual wells of a culture plate.
Pricing
The charge for the use of this microscope is:
- £15 per hour for external users
- £50 for a session for external users
Available sessions are:
- 9am-1pm,
- 1pm–5pm
- 5pm-overnight
