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Department of Biosciences

Advanced Light Microscopy

The Biosciences Light Microscopy facility is one of the best equipped in the UK, housing some of the newest state-of-the-art commercial imaging technologies. Discover more about the diverse imaging modalities available below.

Equipment is available for use by staff, postgraduate students and final year undergraduate students as well as other University departments and commercial clients.
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plant cell in anaphase of division, showing tubulin and DNA

 

 

Imaging Modalities

Having a diverse range of imaging modalities allows for full characterisation of the biological question at hand. Choosing the correct microscope tool for the job may be a difficult one, however facility staff are available to help. A summary of the types of microscope we have available are below, linking out to a more comprehensive details on individual pieces of equipment.

  • Widefield

    Widefield microscopes are standard type of microscope, utilising white or fluorescence light

  • Confocal

    Confocal microscopes generate clearer images by removing out of focus light
    a student sitting at a confocal microscope

  • Lightsheet

    Lightsheet microscopy is much less phototoxic to the sample and can generate 4D images at speed
    Post doctoral student sitting by lattice lightsheet microscope and computer to control it

Widefield

Widefield microscopes are standard type of microscope, utilising white or fluorescence light

Confocal

Confocal microscopes generate clearer images by removing out of focus light
a student sitting at a confocal microscope

Lightsheet

Lightsheet microscopy is much less phototoxic to the sample and can generate 4D images at speed
Post doctoral student sitting by lattice lightsheet microscope and computer to control it

  • TIRF

    Total Internal Reflection Microscopy only extends 200nm making it ideal for events at the cell surface
    GE Healthcare OMX Version4

  • Multiphoton

    High energy of a multiphoton laser enables imaging deeper into a sample or tissue
    Confocal microscope

  • TIRF

    Super-resolution microscopy breaks the diffraction barrier of light producing images below the usual 200nm threshold
    staff members using the OMX super-res microscope

TIRF

Total Internal Reflection Microscopy only extends 200nm making it ideal for events at the cell surface
GE Healthcare OMX Version4

Multiphoton

High energy of a multiphoton laser enables imaging deeper into a sample or tissue
Confocal microscope

Super-Resolution

Super-resolution microscopy breaks the diffraction barrier of light producing images below the usual 200nm threshold
staff members using the OMX super-res microscope

Contact us

Contact our Head of Bioimaging, Dr Tim Hawkins, to find out more about research services and project collaborations available

Bioimaging Facility

Room 137

Department of Biosciences

Stockton Road

Durham

DH1 3LE

 

Tel: +44 (0)191 334 1333

Email: t.j.hawkins@durham.ac.uk