Research Infrastructure for Advanced Cellular Microscopy
- Reference number
- RIF14-0079
- Start and end dates
- 160101-220331
- Amount granted
- 15 000 000 SEK
- Administrative organization
- Göteborg University
- Research area
- Life Sciences
Summary
The Centre for Cellular Imaging (CCI), through the main applicant will ensure open user access to a complete range of state-of-the-art advanced innovative technologies in biological imaging to any scientist, supported by the highly specialized competence that is required for their use. The CCI will capitalize on 11 years of experience as user facility, being the first open-access centre initiated in Sweden in bioimaging. The aims are to: Development and implement of new preparative methods and workflows for innovative imaging technologies: Correlative Light/Electron microscopy, super-resolution and functional microscopy applicable to life sciences, to obtain new information about cell structure and function, and to make these methodologies broadly available to life science community. Offer training of students, researchers and industry in experimental planning, sample preparation, instrument operation & maintenance, data collection and image analysis by skilled application experts ensuring most efficient use of appropriate equipment and competence. Form and support a multi-disciplinary research environment integrated with complementary national expertise, which connects industrial, medical, biological and physical scientists with the aim of generating scientific breakthroughs and technological innovations. Disseminate results and experience to academia and industry through high-impact publications, workshops, courses and stable partnerships with equipment manufacturers
Popular science description
In the last two decades, the development of imaging technologies has revolutionized research in the life sciences. But especially the latest technology are becoming so expensive and sophisticated that their implementation is affordable only for a very small number of research groups or institutions. The large majority of life scientists in Sweden are excluded from this technical revolution, although most of them would apply advanced imaging experiments in their research if only they had access. To address this increasing discrepancy of technical possibilities opening doors to new dimensions of life visualization, the Centre for Cellular Imaging (CCI) Core Facility, at University of Gothenburg, provides open user access to a complete range of state-of-the-art advanced technologies in cellular and molecular imaging to any scientist, supported by the highly specialized competence that is required for their use. The CCI is focusing on innovative microscopy methods, capitalizing on 11 years of experience as user facility, CCI being the first open-access imaging centre initiated in Sweden. The CCI has already proven that there is a critical mass of interested users in dynamic and functional microscopy. The expansion with new developments in correlative light and electron microscopy, functional and super-resolution microscopy is expected to attract additional interest at both national and international level. Bioimaging is a fast-moving field and if Sweden is to retain its prominent positions in both research and product development, there is a need for a National Strategy for research and innovation. Our goal is to foster and facilitate this strategy in bioimaging—both by sharing expensive research infrastructure and by involving the triple helix of academia, industry, and healthcare—that will benefit patient healthcare, the healthcare system, and society in general. It also ensures that this collaboration is directed toward more rapid and targeted development of technologies, solutions, and products that address the needs of the healthcare and life science sectors and most importantly improve healthcare outcomes for patients