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Renaud O, Aulner N, Salles A, Halidi N, Brunstein M, Mallet A, Aumayr K, Terjung S, Levy D, Lippens S, Verbavatz JM, Heuser T, Santarella-Mellwig R, Tinevez JY, Woller T, Botzki A, Cawthorne C, Munck S. Staying on track - Keeping things running in a high-end scientific imaging core facility. J Microsc 2024; 294:276-294. [PMID: 38656474 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.13304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Modern life science research is a collaborative effort. Few research groups can single-handedly support the necessary equipment, expertise and personnel needed for the ever-expanding portfolio of technologies that are required across multiple disciplines in today's life science endeavours. Thus, research institutes are increasingly setting up scientific core facilities to provide access and specialised support for cutting-edge technologies. Maintaining the momentum needed to carry out leading research while ensuring high-quality daily operations is an ongoing challenge, regardless of the resources allocated to establish such facilities. Here, we outline and discuss the range of activities required to keep things running once a scientific imaging core facility has been established. These include managing a wide range of equipment and users, handling repairs and service contracts, planning for equipment upgrades, renewals, or decommissioning, and continuously upskilling while balancing innovation and consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Renaud
- Cell and Tissue Imaging Platform (PICT-IBiSA, France-BioImaging), Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Inserm, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Aulner
- Centre de Ressources et Recherches Technologiques (UTechS-PBI, C2RT), Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Photonic Bio-Imaging, Paris, France
| | - Audrey Salles
- Centre de Ressources et Recherches Technologiques (UTechS-PBI, C2RT), Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Photonic Bio-Imaging, Paris, France
| | - Nadia Halidi
- Advanced Light Microscopy Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maia Brunstein
- Bioimaging Core Facility, Centre de Ressources et Recherches Technologiques (C2RT), Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Institut de l'Audition, Paris, France
| | - Adeline Mallet
- Centre de Ressources et Recherches Technologiques (UBI, C2RT), Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Ultrastructural BioImaging, Paris, France
| | - Karin Aumayr
- BioOptics Facility, Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, Vienna, Austria
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Austrian Academy of Sciences (GMI), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Terjung
- Advanced Light Microscopy Facility, EMBL Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel Levy
- Cell and Tissue Imaging Platform (PICT-IBiSA, France-BioImaging), Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Inserm, Paris, France
| | | | - Jean-Marc Verbavatz
- Institut Jacques Monod (Imagoseine), Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Heuser
- Vienna Biocenter Core Facilities GmbH (VBCF), Wien, Austria
| | | | - Jean-Yves Tinevez
- Image Analysis Hub, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Tatiana Woller
- VIB Technology Training, Data Core, VIB BioImaging Core, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Neuroscience Department, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Christopher Cawthorne
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sebastian Munck
- Neuroscience Department, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- VIB BioImaging Core, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
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Cartwright HN, Hobson CM, Chew TL, Reiche MA, Aaron JS. The challenges and opportunities of open-access microscopy facilities. J Microsc 2024; 294:386-396. [PMID: 36779652 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.13176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
Microscopy core facilities are increasingly utilised research resources, but they are generally only available to users within the host institution. Such localised access misses an opportunity to facilitate research across a broader user base. Here, we present the model of an open-access microscopy facility, using the Advanced Imaging Center (AIC) at Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus as an example. The AIC has pioneered a model whereby advanced microscopy technologies and expertise are made accessible to researchers on a global scale. We detail our experiences in addressing the considerable challenges associated with this model for those who may be interested in launching an open-access imaging facility. Importantly, we focus on how this model can empower researchers, particularly those from resource-constrained settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather N Cartwright
- Advanced Imaging Center, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, Virginia
| | - Chad M Hobson
- Advanced Imaging Center, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, Virginia
| | - Teng-Leong Chew
- Advanced Imaging Center, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, Virginia
| | - Michael A Reiche
- Africa Microscopy Initiative, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jesse S Aaron
- Advanced Imaging Center, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, Virginia
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