Advanced Microscopy Facility

The QBI Advanced Microscopy Facility is one of the largest and most diverse optical microscopy facilities in the Southern Hemisphere. Built around 25 high-end instruments, it offers researchers access to state-of-the-art imaging technology, visualisation software, and experienced staff for training, support, and collaboration. The facility’s capabilities allow 3D imaging of whole brains through to sub-cellular structures within neurons, with techniques such as single-molecule localisation microscopy (SMLM: PALM/STORM/DNA-PAINT), structured illumination microscopy (SIM), laser-scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM, including Airyscan 2), laser-scanning two-photon excitation microscopy (2PEF), spinning disk confocal microscopy, cleared-tissue scanned light-sheet microscopy, high-content imaging, TIRF, FRAP, photo-ablation, calcium imaging, stereology, and threshold-based automatic slide scanning. Many of the instruments are designed to allow imaging of live neurons and organisms to study dynamic processes related to neuroscience research, such as axon regeneration, neuronal survival, and drug delivery. Researchers are supported by GPU-accelerated deconvolution and image segmentation and analysis using Huygens Professional, Huygens Core, and Amira software on UQ RCC's HPC Bunya, and Imaris, arivis Pro, ZEN, SlideBook, NIS Elements, cellSens, MetaMorph, PALM-Tracer, NEO Analysis, Neurolucida 360 Studio, NeuroInfo, FIJI, QuPath, BatchCrop, ilastik, CellProfiler, TeraStitcher, InferenceMAP, R, and RStudio on analysis workstations and virtual machines, with remote-access data storage and management on UQRDM.

For further information on the facility please contact the facility manager, Rumelo Amor.

Services Include

• Information and advice on imaging techniques and experiment design
• Instrument training: from basic use through to advanced techniques
• Training in post-acquisition analysis – including Imaris, Amira, ilastik, Neurolucida, CellProfiler, deconvolution, Image/FIJI
• Ongoing tailored advice and support for imaging projects

 Technical capabilities

• Two-photon/single-photon scanned light-sheet microscopy
• Bright-field and multi-channel fluorescence microscopy
• Laser scanning confocal microscopy, including spectral imaging and multi-positional imaging
• Rapid spinning disk confocal imaging for experiments in tissue and cells
• Super-resolution imaging using single-molecule localisation and structured illumination
• Two-photon and confocal microscopy for tissue imaging and nano-scissor experiments
• Long-term (48+ hrs) live imaging in bright-field and fluorescence
• Rapid-acquisition live imaging for intra-cellular trafficking and calcium imaging
• TIRF microscopy for observing proteins on the cell membrane
• FRET and FLIM imaging for detecting protein interactions
• Slide scanners for automated large-scale tissue imaging in bright-field and fluorescence
• Imaging of micro-fluidic devices
• High-throughput screening of tissue and fluorescence in multi-well plates and dishes
• Stereology for quantifying cell numbers and analysing axon tracks
• Neurolucida, Imaris and Amira for neuron structure analysis and tracing and image processing and segmentation

Please follow the links to find further information:

Instruments

Imaging

Analysis

Events

Please remember to acknowledge the Microscopy Facility and any specific equipment funding (e.g. ARC LIEF grant) appropriately in your publications (see guidelines here).