By providing a broad range of advanced imaging technologies encompassing and linking light and electron microscopy, the Facility supports many research areas, including:

• Cancer
• Cardiovascular Science
• Cell Biology
• Infection and Immunity
• Nanoscience
• Neuroscience
• Regenerative Medicine
• Synthetic Biology

Our users

Our user base currently encompasses over 350 researchers from a wide range of disciplines in the biomedical and physical sciences across the University. The impact and scope of the Wolfson Bioimaging Facility is seen in over 1000 research publications that include data acquired on our microscopes.

We advise and train researchers at all levels of their careers to optimise the use of our microscope systems and to process and analyse the data they generate.

Recent publication highlights

• A de novo designed coiled coil-based switch regulates the microtubule motor kinesin-1. Nature Chemical Biology 20:916-923 (2024)
• Replenishing IRAK-M expression in retinal pigment epithelium attenuates outer retinal degeneration. Science Translational Medicine 16:eaddi4125 (2024)
• SUMOylation of MFF coordinates fission complexs to promote stress-induced mitochondrial fragmentation. Science Advances 10(40):eadq6223 (2024)
• Adiponectin reduces glomerular endothelial glycocalyx disruption and restores glomerular barrier function in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes 73:964-876 (2024)
• Protocell flow reactors for enzyme and whole-cell mediated biocatalysis. Advanced Materials doi: 10.1002/adma.202404607 (2024)
• Mosaic evolution of a learning and memory circuit in Heliconiini butterflies. Current Biology 34:5252-62 (2024)
• Partitioning of an enzyme-polymer surfactant nanocomplex into lipid-rich cellular compartments drives in situ hydrolysis of organophosphates. Small 20(44)e2401982 (2024)
• A 3D in vitro model of the human dentine interface shows long-range osteoinduction from the dentine surface. International Journal of Oral Science 16(1):37 (2024)
• Dynamic co-clustering and self-sorting in interactive protocell populations. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl doi: 10.1002/anie.202420209 (2024)
• Rescue of mitochondrial import failure by intercellular organellar transfer. Nature Communications 15(1):988. (2024)Maturation and conformational switching of a de novo designed phase-separating polypeptide. J. Am. Chem. Soc. doi: 10.1021/jacs.4c00256 (2024)
• Convergence in carnivorous pitcher plants reveals a mechanism for composite trait evolution. Science 383:108-113 (2024)An engineered baculoviral protein and DNA co-delivery system for CRISPR-based mammalian genome editing.  Nucleic Acids Research doi: 10.1093/nar/gkae142 (2024)
• Bacterial surface appendages modulate the antimicrobial activity induced by nanoflake surfaces on titanium. Small Jan 17:e2310149 (2024)
• Self-assembled, disordered structural color from fruit wax bloom. Science Advances 10(6):eadk4219 (2024)Short-range translocation by a restriction enzyme motor triggers diffusion along DNA. Nature Chemical Biology doi: 10.1038/s41589-023-01504-1 (2024)
• Heparanase inhibition as a systemic approach to protect the endothelial glycocalyx and prevent microvascular complications in diabetes. Cardiovascular Diabetology  23:50 (2024)
• Assembling membraneless organelles from de novo designed proteins. Nature Chemistry 16: 89–97 (2024)