L1.1 Using the F-words (FLIM/FRET/FRAP/FLIP etc) to explore fundamental biology
Organised by Prof. Dan Davis (Imperial College London) and Dr. Alison Roberts (Scottish Crop Research Institute)
Advances in microscopy have revolutionized our understanding of the dynamic processes in living systems. This session will discuss how fluorescence and confocal microscope techniques can be used to uncover fundamental molecular and cellular biology beyond merely imaging what goes where. We will explore how innovative approaches to microscopy can be readily implemented to probe molecular interactions, cellular dynamics and membrane biophysics. Current imaging techniques and results at the forefront of biological research will be showcased.
Speakers
- Prof Tony Ng (King's College London) An integration of optical imaging and mathematical approaches to define pathways and make predictions for cancers
- Prof Dorus Gadella (Swammerdam Institute) Optimizing fluorescent proteins by FLIM screening
L1.2 In vivo imaging
Organised Dr Claire Wells (KCL) and Dr Theresa Ward (LSHTM)
In vivo imaging is an exciting and emerging field of cell biology which captures the 3D organisation and multicellular complexity of the target system. This session aims to highlight both technical developments at high resolution and novel applications.
Speakers
- Dr. Andrea Zelmer (LSHTM) Non-invasive in vivo imaging of Tuberculosis - a new approach to drug testing
- Dr. Brian Stramer (KCL) Live Imaging and Genetic Dissection of Macrophage Developmental Dispersal in Drosophila
- Dr. Jane Plumb (Beatson Institute, Glasgow) Lighting the way to novel therapies for cancer
L2.1 Optical Manipulation and Single Molecule Imaging
Organised by Dr. Justin Molloy (MRC)
The use of light to manipulate and observe individual molecules enables us to study a wide range of biological and physical phenomena with unprecedented precision. Our ability to push, pull and twist individual molecules using the linear and angular momentum of light means we can probe how molecules work in the most basic, mechanical way and the advent of new laser and camera technologies means we can watch individual molecules move around either under controlled conditions or within the living cell. This scientific session will explore the very latest advances in technology and the latest scientific discoveries that are being made using optical approaches to study and exploit the interactions between light and matter at the single molecule and nanometre length scale.
Speakers
- Prof. Miles Padgett (University of Glasgow) High-speed holographic tweezers and imaging
- Dr. Achilles Kapanidis (University of Oxford) Advances in single-molecule FRET microscopy
L2.2 Applications of Tomography in Life Sciences
Organised by Prof. Chris Hawes (Oxford Brookes University) & Kim Findlay (John Innes Centre)
This session will explore the application of tomographic techniques on biological material, from high resolution cryo-microscopy through to macro-tomography.
Speakers
- Sue Vaughan (Oxford Brookes University) 3D ultrastructural architecture and morphogenesis of the flagellar pocket area of Trypanosoma brucei
- Karen Lee (John Innes Centre) Capturing plant development in 3D with Optical projection tomography
L3.1 Imaging beyond the resolution limit in live cells
Organised by Dr. Michelle Peckham (Leeds University) and Dr. David Stephens (University of Bristol)
Super-resolution microscopy is starting to help Cell Biologists 'see' inside cells to a much greater detail than ever possible before. This session will cover cell biological approaches that exploit techniques which enable visualization of localization and movement beyond the classical diffraction limit.
Speakers
- Richard Parton (University of Oxford) Development of OMX as a platform for super-resolution live cell imaging
- Giovanni Cappello (Institut Curie, France) Dynamics and thermodynamics of Homologous Recombination
L3.2 Correlative Microscopy
Organised by Dr. Paul Verkade (University of Bristol) Correlative Microscopy aims to combine 2 (or more) techniques in one experiment. At least one of the techniques in such an experiment will be based on Microscopy. Correlative Microscopy techniques have certain strengths over the application of both microscopy techniques separately. Probably the best established Correlative Microscopy technique is the combination of light and transmission electron microscopy (CLEM). Besides highlighting this technique the Correlative Microscopy session also aims to showcase other combinations of Microscopy.
Speakers
- Dr. Lucy Collinson (London Research Institute, CRUK) Correlative light and volume electron microscopy - finding the needle in the haystack
- Prof. John Robinson (Ohio State University) Correlative fluorescence and electron microscopy in tissues
