Expertise
Imaging Platforms
Keywords - Light Microscopy: Scanning and spinning disc confocal microscopy | Lightsheet microscopy | Superresolution microscopy | Widefield microscopy | Live cell imaging | FCS/FCCS | Raman imaging | FLIM
Keywords - Medical Imaging: in vivo Fluorescence Imaging
The Bioimaging Hub at Cardiff University has a range of state of the art imaging platforms, which include a Zeiss Celldiscoverer7 high-throughput live cell imaging system with super-resolution (Airyscan) capability; a Zeiss Lightsheet Z.1 single plane illumination microscope, a Zeiss LSM 880 Airyscan fast scanning confocal (upright) microscope; multiple inverted microscope systems for live cell imaging (including widefield, scanning and spinning disc confocal microscopes) with environmental control; ; a multi-spectral in vivo imaging system; a developmental CARS system; conventional widefield upright microscope systems offering brightfield, darkfield, phase contrast, Nomarski DIC, polarising and epifluorescence optics; a slide scanning system for digitisation of histology samples; stereomicroscopy and macro-imaging. Further details of all imaging equipment and services are available through the Cardiff University Bioimaging Hub website.
Applications
Keywords - Biological: Cell Biology | Neurobiology | Developmental Biology | Plant Biology | Zebrafish | Drosophila | Microbiology | Bio-materials |Histology/pathology
We have 30 years’ experience in most aspects of bioimaging at light and electron microscopic levels. The facility sees a broad range of research applications across multiple disciplines and areas of scientific research including cell biology; histology/histopathology; developmental biology; neurobiology; musculoskeletal biology; plant biology; microbiology; and biomaterials. Applications range from basic histological/histochemical/immunohistochemical evaluation of fixed samples, to advanced multiplexed fluorescence-based imaging of live cells, organoids/spheroids, or small developmental organisms (e.g., zebrafish, drosophila, arabidopsis etc). Techniques include 3D/4D sample analysis, fluorochrome colocalization analysis, spectral analysis, photomanipulation (FRAP, FLIP, FRET etc), super-resolution imaging and fluorescence lifetime imaging.
Sample Preparation
This hub offers a histological sample processing and slide preparation service.
Data Analysis
Keywords - Software: Bitplane Imaris | arivis Vision4D | Fiji (ImageJ)
We use Zeiss Zen, Olympus CellSens, Bitplane Imaris, arivis Vision4D and Fiji (ImageJ) image analysis software, in addition to other open-source software solutions. Our Zen software has dedicated modules for image deconvolution and machine learning.
Shared Access
The hub works in partnership with researchers across Cardiff University and GW4 member institutions. We also provide innovative imaging solutions across the industrial sector.
Full technical support, training, and advice on the use of all of our imaging equipment is available to users on a chargeable basis.