Bioimaging Core Facility Unit

Academic Coordinator:Dr George McKerr
Tel: +44 (0)28 7012 4759
Email: g.mckerr@ulster.ac.uk

The Bioimaging Core Facility at the University of Ulster is equipped with £5 million state-ofthe- art instrumentation and provides a unique opportunity for access to imaging modalities rarely found within a single laboratory. This includes all major variations of light and electron microscopy, confocal, two-photon, second harmonic generation, super resolution and probe microscopy as well as significant software solutions for deconvolution, three-dimensional reconstruction and the latest software from Explora Nova for the implementation of ‘one stop stereology’.

The facility has Reference Laboratory status on two fronts (EM and super resolution optical microscopy) and can provide expert assistance from factory-trained staff on manufacturer maintained and optimised microscopes. All instruments are comprehensively serviced and calibrated by manufacturers’ engineers and the lab has extensive collaborative links with global industries and over two decades of productive collaborations with instrument manufacturers and software developers

Services

Stereo Zoom Microscopy
 Bulk samples
 Fluorescence tracking
 Environmental monitoring
 Custom imaging solutions.

Fluorescence Microscopy
 Measurement of DNA damage e.g., comet assay
 Multiple antigen detection
 Quantitative analyses (eco-toxicology, cell based experiments, engineered tissues)
 Preparation of full and confidential reports, e.g., patent protection, new product development and prototyping.

Laser Micro-dissection
 Laser dissection and manipulation
 Sub-cellular and single micro-organism collection
 Training and collaborative projects
 Assistance with lead up to grant applications and proof of concept.

Cryo-Ultramicrotomy and Preparatory Techniques
 Expert assistance with highly skilled techniques
 Accurate imaging of sensitive structures in food, pharma and emulsions
 Individually tailored preparation regimes
 Comprehensive analysis of results.

Transmission Electron Microscopy
 Support and innovation
 Spatial analysis by tomography and reconstruction
 Low electron dose imaging of fragile frozen samples
 Imaging and counting of nano-particles.

Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy
 Novel imaging of hydrated specimens
 Recording of dynamic events in gels and creams
 Full access to trained partners
 Workshops to update all customers.

Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Super Resolution
 Brand new technology in superresolution
 Ulster’s Leica Centre for tissue engineering, offers opportunities in numerous areas of life sciences, food production, pharmacology and nanomedicine
 Dynamic imaging of delivery systems within cells and deep tissues in x, y, z and time (hours to days)
 Comprehensive support.

Cryo-Focused Ion Beam/Scanning Electron Microscopy
 Unique access to market leading nanofabrication facility
 In-axis nano-manipulation
 Site specific modification of deep cooled samples
 Partnership, in product testing and defect tracing.