Microscopy and Imaging Translational Technology Platform

The Microscopy and Imaging Translational Technology Platform provides access to cutting-edge imaging instrumentation to researchers at the UCL Cancer Institute and within the CRUK UCL Centre.

The Translational Technology Platform (TTP) houses a number of microscopy instruments, including instruments capable of long-term time-lapse, laser microdissection and super-resolution, to name a few. The diverse range of instruments allows for flexibility in experiment design and implementation.

The TTP is supported by a dedicated Translational Technology Platform Manager, who can contribute to projects by assisting with both the experimental strategy and design of experiments, as well as implementing techniques that require expert knowledge and skills to develop innovative and novel methodologies.

New users and booking

All new users must be trained on the instruments. You will be required to undertake a 1 hour induction session which will be charged at the hourly rate. The induction will demonstrate all capabilities of the instrument and give the user an opportunity to ask specific application questions. Hands on help and advice can be provided to all users,as well as assistance in experimental strategy and design. Access to relevant booking information will be provided once training is complete.

To organise a suitable time for an induction, please contact Jiten Manji (ci.microscopyandimaging@ucl.ac.uk).

Book Equipment Here

Following appropriate training, you will be given access to the relevant booking calendars on the Clustermarket Bookkit system.

Instruments and specifications

3i Spinning Disk + TIRF

Spinning Disk Confocal microscope with TIRF and Laser Ablation, Slidebook

This instrument has 4 laser lines, 2 x sCMOS sensors (for Spinning Disk) and 1 x sCMOS sensor (for TIRF) and is capable of imaging up to 40fps. It is fully equipped for time-lapse imaging.

Objectives

10x, 20x, 40xOil, 63xOil, 100xOil (TIRF capable) all Plan-Apochromat

Laser lines

405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 640nm

355nm (ablation)

Image Acquisition

Spinning Disk: 2 x sCMOS Prime95B

TIRF: 1 x sCMOS Prime95B

Peripherals

Piezo stage
Definite focus 2
Environment chamber – CO2 control
Temperature control

3i Marianas Product Information - https://www.intelligent-imaging.com/marianas

A charging structure will be put in place for use of this machine. Please contact Jiten Manji for further information.

Zeiss LSM 880 with AiryScan

Confocal microscope, Zen Black

This instrument has 7 laser lines, 2xPMT detectors and 1x32 channel GaAsP detector and is capable of imaging to a resolution of 130nm. It is fully equipped for time-lapse imaging.

Objectives

5x, 10x, 20x, 40xOil, 63xOil all Plan-Apochromat

Laser lines

405nm ,458nm, 488nm, 514nm, 561nm, 594nm and 633nm

Image Acquisition

2xPMT

1x 32 channel spectral GaAsP

1x 32 element GaAsP

Peripherals

Piezo stage
Definite focus

Zeiss LSM 880 product information

Environment chamber
Temperature control
Heated stage inserts

A charging structure will be put in place for use of this machine. Please contact Jiten Manji for further information.

Zeiss LSM900

Confocal microscope, Zen Black

This instrument has 4 laser lines, 2xGaAsP detectors and is dual colour imaging enabled. It is equipped with a scanning stage

Objectives

10x, 20x, 40xOil and 63xOil all Plan-Apochromat

Laser lines

405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 647nm

Image Acquisition

2xGaAsP detectors

Peripherals

Scanning Stage

A charging structure will be put in place for use of this machine. Please contact Jiten Manji for further information.

Nikon Biostation CT

Long-term time lapse, NIS-Elements

The Biostation has a built in incubator allowing researchers to monitor their cells over long periods of time. It is also able to image up to three fluorescent channels.

Objectives

2x, 5x, 10x, 20x and 40x all phase capable

Fluorescence cubes

CFP, GFP, YFP, DsRed and Cy5

Image Acquisition

CMOS monochrome camera

Peripherals

Incubation temperature control, CO2 control, Humidity control and O2 concentration control Adapters to allow imaging of well plates (any format), dishes and flasks. Nikon Biostation CT product information

Perkin Elmer Vectra 300

Automated imaging cytometer, Phenochart & InForm

This instrument allows for automated slide scanning and spectral unmixing of up to 6 fluorescent parameters. It can scan up to 200 slides in one session.

Objectives

5x, 10x, 20x and 40x all long working distance and phase capable

Fluorescence cubes

DAPI, GFP, TxRed and Cy5

Image Acquisition

Monochrome CCD and Colour CCD cameras

Peripherals

XY scanning stage Automated functionality

IncuCyte Zoom

Medium-term time lapse, IncuCyte Vesselview

The Zoom is a compact microscope purpose built to image from inside a temperature controlled incubator. It allows for medium-term time lapse imaging with up to two fluorescence parameters.

Objectives

4x, 10x, 20x

Fluorescence

Green: Ex 440-480nm, Em 504-544nm
Red: Ex 565-605nm, Em 625-705nm

Image Acquisition

Inverted microscope kept at 37oC on a 2-hour imaging schedule.

Peripherals

96-well scratch maker

IncuCyte FLR

Medium-term time lapse, IncuCyte Vesselview

The FLR is a compact system designed to image from within a temperature controlled incubator with up to one fluorescent parameter.

Objectives

4x, 10x

Fluorescence cubes

GFP

Image Acquisition

Colour CCD

Zeiss Live Cell Imager

Short-term time lapse, Axiovision

This instrument has temperature, CO2 and O2 control. It provides high resolution for short-term time lapse imaging experiments.

Objectives

10x, Long Distance 20x, 20x, Long Distance 40x, 40x and 100x Oil

Fluorescence cubes

DAPI/GFP/CFP CFP/RFP

Peripherals

Colibri LED fluorescence illumination XY Scanning stage Environmental Chamber Controlled atmosphere – Temp, CO2 Heated plate inserts

Image Acquisition

Axiocam MRm – Fluorescence

Zeiss Z1 Inverted with Apotome

Widefield inverted epifluorescent microscope, Axiovision

This instrument is a motorised inverted epifluorescent microscope, capable of imaging up to five fluorescent parameters. The Apotome attachments allows for Z sectioning for thicker specimens.

Objectives

5x, 10x, Long Distance 20x, 20x, 40x and 100x Oil

Fluorescence cubes

DAPI, GFP, Cy5, PI, TxRed

Peripherals

Zeiss Apotome – Structured illumination

Image Acquisition

Axiocam MRm – Fluorescence

Zeiss A1

Epifluorescent microscope, Axiovision

The A1 is an upright microscope with two cameras available: a monochrome camera for fluorescence and a colour camera for chromogenic staining.

Objectives

5x, 10x, 20x, 40x, 63x Oil, 100x Oil

Fluorescence cubes

DAPI, GFP, Rhod, tdTom

Image Acquisition

Axiocam MRm – Fluorescence Axiocam HRc – Colour

Zeiss PALM Microbeam

Laser microdissection and capture, PALM Robo

Based on a Zeiss Z1 system, this instrument utilises a 355nm laser to dissect tissue and capture tissue contact free, reducing potential contamination.

Objectives

5x, 10x, 20x, 40x, 63x and 100x Oil

Fluorescence cubes

DAPI, GFP, DsRed

Image Acquisition

Axiocam MRm – Fluorescence Axiocam iCC fast - Colour

Peripherals

XY scanning stage 3 Slide holder, petri dish holder, single and double capture tube holders

Evos FL Auto

Epifluorescent microscope, EvosFL Auto

This epifluorescent microscope can image up to three fluorescent parameters. The automated stage allows for scanning tissue sections and stitching images.

Objectives

5x, 10x, 20x and 40x all long working distance and phase capable

Fluorescence cubes:

DAPI, GFP, TxRed and Cy5

Image Acquisition

Monochrome CCD and Colour CCD cameras

Peripherals

XY scanning stage
Automated functionality

Leica M205FA

Stereo microscope, Leica LAS

The M205FA is a versatile instrument which allows researchers ample working room between the objective and the specimen. It can image up to 3 fluorescent parameters.

Objectives

Apochromatic variable – 7.8x to 160x

Fluorescence cubes

DAPI, GFP, RFP

Image Acquisition

Leica DFC310 – Colour

Zeiss Z1 Upright

Epifluorescent microscope, Zen Blue

This instrument is a motorised upright epifluorescent microscope, capable of imaging up to five fluorescent parameters. Zen blue is used as the acquisition software.

Objectives

2.5x, 5x, 10x, 20x, 40x

Fluorescence cubes

DAPI, GFP, Cy5, PI, TxRed

Image Acquisition

Axiocam MRm – Fluorescence

Image Analysis

Available packages:

Imaris Full Licence
Nikon NIS Elements AR
Zeiss Zen Black deconvolution

Services

Basic Training for Zeiss LSM 880 with Airyscan: Training will last 1 hour and will go through the basic functions of the instrument and Z-stacking. Users will be charged 1 hour at the instruments hourly rate. Please contact Jiten to arrange this.
Advanced Training for Zeiss LSM 880 with Airyscan: This will last 1 hour and will go through user specific applications for the instrument. Techniques such as FRAP, FRET and linear unmixing. Users are expected to have already attended basic training. Users will be charged 1 hour at the instruments hourly rate. Please contact Jiten to arrange this.
Training for time-lapse and epifluorescent microscopes: Users will be charged 1 hour at the instruments hourly rate. Please contact Jiten to arrange this.