ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø

Skip to main content

Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center

Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center
  2. biomiid
  3. BioMIID at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Biophotonics Center

BioMIID at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Biophotonics Center

close up
placeholder placeholderÌý

Ìý
Welcome!!!

Welcome to BioMIID at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Biophotonics Center!!! BioMIID (Biomedical Microscopy,ÌýImmersion, Innovation, and Discovery) is a program created through a Vanderbilt Trans-InstitutionalÌýPrograms (TIPs) award in 2017, and brings together experts from three schools (Engineering, Medicine,Ìýand Arts & Science), focused on biophotonics innovation and biomedical discovery. Students, postdocs,Ìýstaff, and faculty come together to innovate cutting-edge microscopy systems that do not yet exist inÌýthe commercial realm, in order to address pressing biomedical research questions. The goal is toÌýdevelop a cadre of trainees at all levels who can identify pressing research questions and build nextÌýgeneration instrumentation that exceeds the limitations of commercial systems. These systems thenÌýare deployed to the vast user-base of our Vanderbilt research community, where researchers exploit theÌýstrengths of such systems to tackle their diverse array of biomedical research interests.Ìý

Our current focus is building and running next-gen light sheet platforms with a few goals in mind. LightÌýsheet microscopy is a vague term these days, which only describes the general strategy of selectiveÌýplane illumination. Like many technologies, instruments can be optimized for specific applications. AnÌýinstrument designed to do everything, is generally not the best at any one thing. While most lightÌýsheets systems share the benefit of speed and lower phototoxicity (relative to confocal for example),Ìýthey can vary dramatically in 1). the types of samples they can accommodate 2). spatial resolution, andÌý3). field-of-view (FOV). Since we serve a diverse user base, interested in sub-cellular all the way toÌýorganism -scale imaging applications, it is important that we develop instruments that can address aÌýrange of sample types and requirements. As such, we have built and deployed the 1st two (of severalÌýmore) microscopy platforms aimed at imaging samples throughout this range.

  • Lattice Light Sheet Microscope (LLS)
    • Designed and utilized with high-resolution, low phototoxicity, high-speed applications in mind
    • More sample restrictive than other light sheet platforms, and excels at live cell experiments
    • Utilizes two, orthogonally arranged, objectives toÌýshape the light sheet and gather the emitted signal

  • Scanned Oblique Plane Illumination Microscope (SOPi)
    • Designed with sample flexibility in mind and can accommodate a wide array of sample types from cells to organisms
    • Utilizes a single objective to both shape the excitation sheet,as well as collect the emitted signal
    • Lower overall spatial resolution, but higher field-of-view (FOV) (vs. LLS, for example)

COMING SOON:

  • Lattice Light Sheet Gen2, with Dual-Cam, Multiphoton, and Adaptive Optics
  • Scanned Oblique Plane Illumination Microscope with Multi-Resolution, Dual-Cam, Multiphoton, and Photo-Stim

Ìý

Interested in a research collaboration opportunity with BioMIID???!

Click this , or navigate to the menu on the top right of this page, to access the application form!