Advanced Light Microscopy Unit
Advanced Light Microscopy Unit
Overview
It is the aim of this unit to provide instruments covering the whole application spectrum of advanced light microscopy and to make them available to researchers from the CRG as well as for visitors from other research institutions.
As Core Facility for light microscopy, the unit provides a number of advanced light microscopy systems, equipment for sample preparation and maintenance prior to imaging and resources for the subsequent processing of the image data.
The staff assists researchers in the experimental planning of light microscopy experiments and provides the in-depth training for the operation of the microscopes and for specific imaging techniques. Additionally, support is provided in the processing, rendering and analysis of the acquired datasets. If needed, custom analysis routines will be designed.
Latest Updates
Two new new major experimental facilities announced for the ALBA synchrotron (09/04/2020)
The ALBA Synchrotron will host two new major experimental facilities, one dedicated to materials science, valued at 4.1 million euros and led by the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), and another meant for molecular biology, valued at 1.7 million euros and headed by the Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC).
New purchases:
- Installation of an Andor Dragonfly Spinning Disk confocal scanner on a Nikon Eclipse Ti2 microscope: The new system aims to extend the offer for fast and sensitive in-vivo confocal imaging that is needed by the unit users and will because of its modular design and excellent illumination optics (Borealis) serve as a platform for future technology upgrades. (9/2017)
- Acquisition of a Nikon N-STORM 4.0 system for localization-based super-resolution microscopy: This system extends the existing offer of super-resolution systems in the unit by adding the capability to execute Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM) based on activator-emitter pairs. (9/2017)
- Purchase of a Leica 93x 1.3 NA Glycerol objective with motorized correction collar for STED imaging on the Leica STED 3X super-resolution system: This new objective allows to efficiently use Stimulate Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy in thick samples and in living samples that would be mismatched in the refractive index to STED objectives with oil immersion. (5/2017)
Nadia Halidi CV
February 2021 Head of the Advanced Light Microscopy Unit, CRG, Barcelona, Spain.
2018 - 2021 Assistant manager, then manager of Micron Oxford Advanced Bioimaging Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
2017 - 2018 Postdoctoral researcher and imaging facility manager at the Botnar Research Center, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
2011 - 2015 Postdoctoral fellow at the Dept. of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
2007 - 2011 PhD in Biophysics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
2005 Teaching assistant at the Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI, USA.
2002 - 2006 Research and teaching assistant at the Dept. of Biophysics, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
How to access / Instrument Booking
The Advanced Light Microscopy Unit (ALMU) is open to the research community from within CRG, the PRBB, and beyond. ALMU houses a range of state-of-the-art microscopes, from widefield, confocal to super-resolution systems. We offer training, instrumentation, and support for experimental design, sample preparation, data analysis, and visualization to the highest standards.
To request access and training, please read our Access Policy.
For existing users, all our resources can be booked through our booking system AGENDO: http://crg.agendo.science
ALMU Access Policy
ALMU COVID guidelines
Service Prices
Services
- Technology training on the operation of the unit’s microscope systems
- Support for experiments requiring advanced imaging methods
- User access to high-end light microscopy systems covering all currently existing imaging fields
Equipment
The equipment offer is available to trained users and covers all current imaging applications with high-end imaging systems.
Super-resolution microscopy
- Leica TCS SP8 STED 3X super-resolution microscope with white light laser and three depletion wavelengths (592nm CW, 660nm CW, 775nm pulsed) for 3D STED Purchase year: 2015
- Leica TCS SP5II CW STED super-resolution microscope with 592 nm CW depletion and two HyD detectors Purchase year: 2010
- Leica Ground State Depletion (GSD) microscope system for localization-based super-resolution microscopy (488 nm, 532 nm, 647 nm, 405 nm backpumping) Purchase year: 2012
- Nikon N-STORM 4.0 microscope system for localization-based super-resolution microscopy (405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 647 nm) Purchase year: 2017
Multiphoton microscopy
- SpectraPhysics MaiTai DeepSee tunable pulsed infrared laser Purchase year: 2009, upgrade 2012
- Leica TCS SP5 AOBS inverted confocal microscope (Purchase year: 2007) with Picoquant TCSPC hardware for FLIM and FCS Purchase year: 2009
- Leica TCS SP5 CFS (fixed stage) upright confocal microscope (Purchase year: 2008) with two non-descanned HyD detectors Purchase year: 2012
Confocal Microscopy
- Leica TCS SP8 AOBS inverted confocal microscope Purchase year: 2016
- 1 Leica TCS SP8 and 3 Leica TCS SP5 confocal microscopes (see super-resolution and multiphoton equipment)
- Leica TCS SPE inverted confocal microscope Purchase year 2007
- Andor Dragonfly Spinning Disk confocal module on a Nikon Eclipse Ti2 microscope Purchase year: 2017
- Andor Revolution XD Spinning Disk confocal microscope Purchase year: 2008
Widefield Microscopy
- Zeiss Cell Observer HS with Zen Blue software Purchase year: 2007
Screening Microscopy
- Molecular Devices ImageXpress Micro Purchase year: 2009
Computer resources
- Acquifer HIVE for intermediate storage and image processing Purchase year: 2015
- 2 workstations for image processing
Software packages
- SVI Huygens Deconvolution software
- Bitplane Imaris 3D and 4D imaging software
- Open Source packages available on HIVE and the workstations: Fiji, Cell Profiler
Work Sheets
No resources available at the moment.
Head of unit
Technicians
UPF Unit Members
Technicians
UPF Unit Members
