The facility has

    Four conventional HTM devices that provide live-cell incubation conditions for cells in multiwell plates (96, 384 or 1536 well) for flexible dynamic fluorescence imaging in wide field or spinning disk format.

    One single-objective light sheet device consisting of a flat stage to accommodate multiwell plates, 5 laser lines, Kinetix 10MP 500fps sCMOS camera, transmission and external epi/actuation ports and an incubation enclosure for control of temperature, humidity and CO2. The primary objective is 20x NA1.0 and the teriary is a “snouty”AGS-AMY version3. More details available soon.

    These instruments are used for High-Content Analysis and High-Throughput Microscopy of live or fixed cells or small model organisms.

    NEWS: As of 5/2026, a free-standing API has been developed and is available for these instruments. This allows fine-grained customisation of image acquisition workflows and feedback-microscopy. Real-time or on-the-fly adaptation of image acquisition workflows can be implemented based on images acquired. Please contact us for further details.

    High-Capacity Instruments for Live and Fixed Samples

    The four systems are modified forms of the BD Pathway855 High-Content Analyzer. These offer stimulation/perturbation with on-stage pipetting. Conventional through-objective actuation or alternatively parallel plate-wide optogenetic manipulation is possible when stimulation programmes should be maintained during the imaging of multiple positions. All units can be used for end-point or short dynamic imaging sessions, well by well, or longitudinal parallel imaging of the whole plate or selected sub-fields for hours, days or longer.

    One of the units can be integrated to an automated cell incubator, allowing automated plate exchange, as well as replenishment of tips and reagent plates from ambient or cooled stacks.

    Excitation light is provided by high-power LEDs precisely shuttered in sync with image acquisition to provide defined light doses, which excludes phototoxicity caused by lagging mechanical shutters that have now been completely removed. Light sources have been replaced with open source hardware (OSH) designs delivering 10x more power than commercial options, with 5µs precision shuttering. LEDs used provide 405nm/20, 460nm/50, 430-600nm (used for the 500-555nm range) and 630nm/20nm light. A 735nm LED has been built and filters are being optimised.

    Data management, image processing and single cell data analysis are handled in automated pipelines, which are under continuous development to meet new needs that arise.


    The integrated system can be used with the following instruments :

    Objectives available

    • 1.25x 0.04 – Olympus PLAPON
    • 2x 0.08 – Olympus PLAPON
    • 4x NA 0.13 – Olympus UPLSAPO
    • 4x NA 0.16 – Olympus UPLSAPO
    • 10x NA 0.3 LWD – Olympus UPLFLN
    • 10x NA0.4 – Olympus UPLSAPO
    • 20x NA 0.45 LWD – Olympus LUCPLFLN
    • 20x NA 0.75 – Olympus UPLSAPO
    • 40x NA 0.9 – Olympus UPLSAPO
    • 40x NA 0.95 – Olympus PLAPO

    Filters Installed

    Excitation Filters

    2 wheels, 8 positions each

    • 405/20
    • 438/24 BrightLine HC or ET436/20
    • D440/10
    • D470/40
    • 488/10
    • ET500/20X
    • FF01-513/13
    • 525/40
    • HQ548/20
    • S555/28
    • HQ560/55
    • 635/20 (S635/20 or ZET635/20)
    • additional filters available

    Beam-Combiner Dichroics

    5 positions

    • Open
    • Mirror
    • 10/40 splitter
    • 50/10 splitter
    • additional dicroics available

    Objective Dichroics

    5 positions

    • FF01-458-DI01 Semrock
    • 515LP (72100bs Chroma)
    • 595DCLP Chroma
    • quad-band #84100bs or ZT405/488/561/640rpcv2-UF1 Chroma
    • additional dicroics available

    Emission Filters

    8 positions

    • AT450/20X Intended for BFP
    • 483/32 BrightLine HC Intended for CFP, mTurquoise2, mTFP1.0
    • 542/27 BrightLine HC (one instrument only, other use 540/50) Suitable for YFP, Ypet, mNeonGreen, mGreenLantern, Dronpa
    • HQ540/50 Intended for YFP, Ypet, mNeonGreen, mGreenLantern, Dronpa; can be used for GFP, Alexa 488
    • 570LP
    • ET620/60X intended for mCherry, mScarlet, jRCaMP1b, Alexa 568
    • ET700/75m intended for miRFP670, Alexa 647 and similar
    • additional filters available

    Location: Biocity, 5th floor

    Contact person: Michael Courtney

    Last updated on May 26, 2026