Microscopy and Histopathology CoLab

Overview of Services

The Microscopy and Histopathology CoLab is an institutional shared research resource at SCRI that provides access to advanced cutting-edge imaging technology and tissue processing services in a collaborative manner for investigators at SCRI that is cost effective and equitable.

Microscopy:

Available microscopes in the CoLab include:

• Zeiss Microscopy LSM 900 confocal microscope with 405, 488, 561, and 640 nm laser lines
• Zeiss Microscopy LSM 980 confocal microscope with 405, 445, 488, 514, 561, 594, 639, and 730 nm laser lines and NIR detectors
• Yokogawa CSU-W1 SoRa spinning disk confocal microscope for live cell imaging, powered by a 7-line high-power solid-state laser launch (405/446/488/518/577/639/748) system
• LifeCanvas Technologies SmartSPIM Light-Sheet Microscope, supported by NIH S10 grant 1S10OD038341-01
• ImageXpress Nano high-content, automated imaging system

Researchers with vivarium access may also sign up to use the Cure/JMB vivarium stereoscopes.

Slide digitization services are provided using Zeiss Microscopy Axioscan 7 which has a capacity of up to 100 slides per scan using objectives that include 5x, 10x, 20x, and 40x magnification.

Microscopy services also include training and support with image visualization and analysis. The CoLab provides the following image analysis capabilities, available for scheduling in iLab:

1. Imaris 11 core facilities package with a floating license manager
2. Zeiss Zen 3.12 including LSM Plus and Airyscan Joint Deconvolution modules
3. NIS Elements 6.10 including GA3, HCA, Jobs
4. Zeiss Arivis pro 4.1.0 (formerly Vision4D)
5. 3D Slicer including SlicerMorph extension
6. Fiji/ ImageJ
7. QuPath

Histopathology:

Histopathology services provided by the CoLab are include tissue processing, embedding, sectioning, and basic staining as well as multiplex immunohistochemistry. Consultation on experimental set up, slide preparation and data analysis are also available.  A self-use cryostat and vibratome are also available for trained users (training provided by CoLab).

CoLab personnel

Aarya Vaikakkara Chithran, PhD - Research Scientist III (Microscopy)

Ginny Schultz, MS - Research Lab Supervisor (Histology)

Location and hours of operation

Contacts