Advanced Biological Electron Microscopy Facility

We offer access to a wide range of biological electron microscopy equipment and techniques, supported by expert advice, technical assistance and hands-on training. Our services cover the entire workflow from experimental design and sample preparation through to data acquisition analysis and interpretation. We specialise in biological Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) providing complete end-to-end workflows including fixation processing and high-resolution imaging of biological specimens. We also offer Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy (SBF-SEM) for three-dimensional imaging of biological samples. This enables automated serial sectioning and volumetric data collection, allowing for the study of complex cellular and tissue structures. Our 3D image analysis services support reconstruction visualisation and interpretation of datasets. Throughout all stages, we provide research support including guidance on experimental design and imaging strategies technical assistance expertise in structural and cellular biology and contributions to grant applications and research projects.

Equipment

Name	Make/Model	Details
Serial Block Face (SBF) Zeiss Sigma Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with Gatan 3View® 2XP	Sigma Zeiss Scanning electron microscope with integrated Gatan 3view 2XP	The Zeiss Sigma Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with the Gatan 3View® 2XP system offers nanometre-scale resolution and high-resolution 3D imaging of biological samples. This includes subcellular structures and micron -scale tissue volumes. It achieves this through automated serial block-face sectioning and reconstruction of complex biological architecture.
JEOL 1010 Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)	JEOL 1010 Transmission electron microscope.	The JEOL 1010 Transmission Electron Microscope provides high-contrast imaging of biological specimens at the nanometre scale. This enables clear visualisation of fine cellular and subcellular structures. It features a Gatan Orius 1000 camera for digital acquisition of high-quality images of biological samples. The microscope is configured for conventional preparation of resin-embedded specimens on standard grids and lacks electron tomography capabilities.
Leica EMPACT2 High Pressure Freezer	LEICA EMPACT2	Leica EMPACT2 high-pressure freezer is a specialized lab instrument that instantly preserves biological samples by vitrification freezing them, capturing cellular structures in near-native detail for advanced TEM microscopy.
LEICA AFS2	LEICA AFS2	Leica AFS2 is an automated freeze substitution system that precisely controls low-temperature processing including as freeze substitution and progressive lowering of temperature to prepare immuno-electron microscopy samples while preserving ultrastructure and antigenicity.
Leicia UC6	Leicia UC6	Leica UC6 Ultramicrotome with a cryo stage is a precision instrument that cuts ultrathin sections of frozen biological samples at controlled low temperatures, enabling high-quality ultrastructural analysis for advanced microscopy.
Reichert UCE	Reichert UCE	Reichert UCE Ultramicrotome (x2) is a precision device used to cut ultrathin sections of embedded samples, enabling detailed ultrastructural analysis under electron microscopy.