The Centre for Advanced Microscopy provides core microscopy support to the Institute's research and clinical programs. By concentrating advanced imaging into a core facility, expert support can be provided for all equipment and software. This centre provides researchers with high level support and training for all their microscopy based experiments.

Microscopic investigation of tissues and cells provides a powerful tool to cancer research. It gives researchers the ability to visualise and quantitate the many complex interactions between cells, and parts of cells. Fluorescence detection of proteins via specific antibodies or proteins fusion is heavily utilised to achieve these ends.

The facility provides a range of microscopy systems: Widefield microscopes allow visualisation of thin tissue sections or cells, thicker samples can be imaged using confocal microscopy. Confocal microscopy allows thin optical slices to be imaged that can then be used to generate 3D models for visualisation and analysis. The facility also houses a multi-photon microscope provided by ACRF funds. This microscope is similar to a confocal microscope, but allows imaging to a much greater depth, up to 10 times deeper.

All microscopes in the facility have the ability to capture long term live images of cells, tissues and whole animals. This involves keeping the sample warm in an incubator, providing growth media and a supply of gas (oxygen and carbon dioxide) to allow the cells or tissue to grow as normal. Images are then taken at a given interval (every few seconds to 30 minutes or more) over a long time course up to 2 or 3 days. This series of images can then be made into a movie that can be used to visualise or analyse the dynamic process being imaged.

In addition to capturing images the facility provides a range of advanced software applications. These programs allow for the detailed analysis and visualisation of image data collected with the facility’s microscope systems.

For further information on the specific equipment , software available or the techniques used in the facility click here to enter the Centre for Advanced Microscopy’s web site.