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Confocal Airyscan

The Zeiss LSM 800 is an inverted Zeiss Axio Observer Z1 laser scanning confocal microscope equipped with high quantum efficiency GaAsP detector, 2 multi-alkali PMTs and DIC optics for trans-illumination microscopy with each objective. In addition, the Airyscan module can deliver images with 1.7 x improved resolution (120 nm in x / y and 350 nm in z) and 4-8 x better signal-to-noise ratio, with fast linear scanning. Airyscan works with thicker samples such as fixed tissue sections or whole animal mounts that need a higher penetration depth.

Confocal Spectral Scan

The Zeiss LSM 780 is a high-sensitivity laser scanning confocal microscope. Unlike most standard confocal systems this instrument comes equipped with a GaAsP photodetector. This detector in addition to boasting a quantum efficiency of 45% (in comparison to 25% for standard PMTs), it can also be used as a single-point detector or as a 32-channel detector array facilitating spectral measurements. It can also be switched into a single-photon counting mode providing great signal to noise for such techniques as FCS and RICS.

TIRF Super-resolution SIM

TIRF Super-resolution SIM Funded by Ramaciotti Foundation

The Zeiss Elyra 7 offers several super-resolution modalities, allowing detailed visualisation of samples beyond the diffraction limit of conventional light microscopy. With 2 fast CMOS cameras, this system allows users to rapidly image multiple colours. The Elyra 7 features Lattice SIM (Structured Illumination Microscopy), allowing fast and gentle super-resolution imaging (~120 nm in xy and ~300 nm in z) in 3 dimensions. The speed of this imaging modality is well suited to capturing dynamic biological processes in live samples. In addition, the Elyra 7 features TIRF imaging for improved signal to noise, and single-molecule localisation imaging for STORM, PALM and PAINT experiments (~20-30 nm xy and ~50-80 nm in z) on fixed samples.

Fluorescence Widefeild

The Zeiss Celldiscoverer 7 is a boxed imaging system suited for performing automated experiments. This inverted widefield system features automatic focusing, focus stabilisation, time-course and position setup to allow researchers insert a sample and set up long-term experiments in minutes. The Celldiscoverer 7 has a fully temperature-controlled sample chamber with a CO2 pump, this chamber is highly stable and allows for live cells to stay healthier for longer. By utilising LEDs as a light-source, live-cells can be imaged gently and with low phototoxicity, making the Celldiscoverer 7 ideal for long-term live experiments. Additionally, an infrared LED is used for transmitted light brightfield and phase contrast imaging through all available objectives and through a variety of sample holders.

Fluorescence Widefield Confocal

The Zeiss Celldiscoverer 7 is a boxed imaging system suited for performing automated experiments. This inverted widefield system features automatic focusing, focus stabilisation, time-course and position setup to allow researchers to insert a sample and set up long-term experiments in minutes

The Celldiscoverer 7 has a fully temperature-controlled sample chamber with a CO2 pump, this chamber is highly stable and allows for live cells to stay healthier for longer. By utilising LEDs as a light-source for widefield imaging, live-cells can be imaged gently and with low phototoxicity, making the Celldiscoverer 7 ideal for long-term live experiments. Additionally, an infrared LED is used for transmitted light brightfield and phase contrast imaging through all available objectives and through a variety of sample holders.

Specimen Preparation

Thermo Scientific CryoStar NX70 is a high-performance cryostat designed to prepare tissue

sections of frozen samples in medical and research laboratories. Specimen temperature control range is from -50^oC to +10^oC and blade temperature control range is from -35^oC to -5^oC.  Section thickness can be ranged from 0.5 µm to 500 µm. Fresh or fixed frozen specimens, embedded in OCT, are suitable for cryostat sectioning.  Frozen sections could be used for varying staining, such as histology stains, Immunohistochemistry (IFC) and Immunofluorescence (IF) stains.

Ptychography

The Phasefocus Livecyte is an inverted system for live cell imaging. This microscope has Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI, also known as Ptychography) a label-free approach that utilises relative phase shift information to produces images of cells and tissues with high contrast and high fidelity with low phototoxicity and photobleaching. The system is also equipped with widefield fluorescence capabilities for researchers that wishes to identify cells and cellular components with high specificity.

Specimen Preperation

Leica RM2135 rotary microtome is used to cut very thin cross-sections of specimens (usually 4 µm) for routine and research histology studies in the fields of biology and medicine.  This instrument is designed for cutting soft and harder paraffin embedded specimens, as long as they are suitable for being cut manually.  The sectioning thickness setting range can be from 1 µm to 60 µm.  High quality paraffin sections could be used for varying staining, such as Haematoxylin and Eosin stain (H&E), immunohistochemistry (IHC), Immunofluorescent staining (IF) and In situ hybridization (ISH).

Specimen Preperation

The BOND RX provides an easy way to automate the preparation of samples. In combination with PerkinElmer Opal™ Kit it is also useful for multiplexing allowing up to 9 fluorescent labels within a single sample.

Specimen Preperation

Chemicon Advanced Tissue Arrayer ATA100 allows you to create customized arrays of multiple tissue specimens on a single histologic slide. This instrument allows to selectively remove core tissue samples from paraffin blocks and arrange those tissue samples into an array within a recipient paraffin block. The newly formed tissue array paraffin block is then ready for further histology technique processing.

Fluorescence Widefield

The Leica DM IL microscope is used to illuminate whole cells; observing and analysing a cell as a single entity. The DM IL is an inverted epifluorescence microscope, with transmitted light LED back illumination and an EL6000 Fluoro system.

Confocal Rapid FLIM Super-resolution Funded by Cancer Institute NSW

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) adds another dimension to conventional intensity based imaging methods. FLIM is not affected by fluctuations in the fluorescence intensity and permits to discrimination between fluorophores with similar emission spectra (and from auto-fluorescence. It can be used to probe local environmental conditions (e.g., pH value), to determine ion concentrations, to study intracellular signal transduction or to distinguish between different tissue components.

Confocal FLIM

The Microtime200, manufactured by the German-based PicoQuant GmbH, is generally used in conjunction with the TCS SP5 microscope. By using the lasers from the TCS SP5, the Microtime200 is capable of measuring how fast proteins move within the cell (diffusion) and protein to protein interactions.

Florescence TIRF HiLo Intravital Widefield

This microscope combines a total internal fluorescence (TIRF) and highly inclined and laminated optical sheet modalities in one instrument. TIRF modality allows user to image molecules at the surface of cells and apply super- resolution imaging techniques such as PALM and STORM. HiLo modality offers the possibility of exciting a thin inclined plane within cells or thin layer of cells within few micrometers of a live animal tissue. Automatized variability of angle of HiLo emergence and camera imaging allows for fast sectioning of sample.

Clearing Specimen Preperation

EasyGel is a system designed for speeding the process of producing tissue-gel-hybridization samples. The SmartClear II system is a commercial instrument that allow fast, easy and reliable tissue clearing of tissue-gel-hybridization samples. The system uses stochastic electrotransport technology to remove lipids from tissue-gel-hybridization samples, thereby producing optically transparent samples. Samples that have been optically cleared with the SmartClear II system can be imaged by a number of light microscopy techniques such as confocal and lightsheet. 

Super-resolution TIRF Widefield Funded by Ramaciotti Foundation

This is a total internal fluorescence (TIRF) microscope built on an inverted Nikon Ti2-E microscopeThe TIRF modality allows user to image molecules at surface of cells and apply super- resolution imaging techniques such as PALM and STORM. It is equipped with piezo Z stage and Nikon Perfect Focus System 4, making it ideal for long term imaging. It is equipped with stage top incubator and objective heater as well as CO2, allowing live cell imaging. With quad filter, 4 solid state laser lines,

Confocal Intravital

The Nikon A1 intravital microscope is an inverted confocal system designed for fast stable imaging over time. With two scanners, a standard Galvano scanner for achieving images with a high signal-to-noise ratio and a resonant scanner for when speed is of upmost importance, this system is suitable for a wide range of experiments. Equipped with 4 dedicated PMTs for reflective/fluorescence imaging, 2 of which as high efficiency GaAsP detectors, and a hardware solution (Perfect Focus System) for preventing drift during imaging this system yields both high sensitiy with speed and stability.

AFM

The NanoWizard® 4 XP atomic force microscope is an advanced Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). AFM is a very high-resolution type of Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) which acquires data by “feeling” or “touching” the surface of a sample with a mechanical probe

The Bruker MultiMode® 8 (MM8) is an advanced atomic force microscope (AFM) and Scanning Tunnelling Microscope (STM). Its PeakForce Tapping technology enables exceedingly low tip-sample force interactions compared to tapping mode, making it particularly useful for delicate samples by allowing the user to control the maximal force imparted to the sample. The MM8 also features the Bruker ScanAsyst® software, automating the optimisation of scanning parameters for users to obtain quality images.