The ACRF Centre for Imaging the Tumour Environment

This is a state-of-the-art imaging centre established to understand how and why tumours corrupt the normal cells of the immediate micro-environment surrounding them.  The Centre houses a range of advanced imaging technologies and platforms including:

Contact

If you would like to discuss opportunities to use our platform technologies and services, please contact:

A/Prof Sarah Ellis
Head, ACRF Centre for Imaging the Tumour Environment (CITE)

Email

Take a look inside

Inverted confocal microscope

The Zeiss LSM 980 with Airyscan 2 confocal microscope is the latest model offered by Zeiss and is specifically designed for fast and gentle imaging in 4D.

Capabilities

  • High resolution Airyscan 2 imaging
  • Lambda scan
  • Spectral linear un-mixing
  • Online fingerprinting
  • Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)
  • Tile Scanning
  • Time Series
  • Z-Stack Scanning
  • Experimental Designer for automation of complex experiments

 Hardware

  • 7 Solid State Laser Lines: 405, 445, 488, 514, 561 ,594, 633
  • Objectives: Air (5x, 10x, 20x), Water (40x), Oil (40x, 63x)
  • Axio Observer 7 inverted motorised microscope including Definite Focus 2
  • Integrated incubation system, including large incubation chamber, temperature and CO2 control
  • Full range of stage inserts for all specimen holders
  • Airyscan 2 module for super-resolution imaging (120nm XY, 350nm Z resolution)
  • Motorised XY stage and fast Z-piezo focus device
  • Selection of Detectors: 32 channel GaAsP array detection, 2 x MA-PMT, Airyscan 2 detector and Transmitted-PMT

Upright multiphoton and confocal microscope

The Zeiss LSM 980 NLO multiphoton microscope was built especially for the ONJCRI specifications. It was the first of this model in the world and is the only one in Australia.

This multifunctional system is additionally equipped with confocal imaging capabilities and is ideally suited for the next generation of discoveries using in-vitro and in-vivo models of the tumour environment.

Capabilities:

  • Deep tissue intravital microscopy
  • Second Harmonic imaging
  • High resolution Airyscan 2 imaging
  • Lambda scan
  • Spectral linear un-mixing
  • Online fingerprinting
  • Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)
  • Fluorescence Liftetime Imaging (FLIM)
  • Tile Scanning
  • Time Series
  • Z-Stack Scanning 
  • Experimental Designer for automation of complex experiments

Hardware:

  • 5 Solid State Laser Lines: 445, 488, 514, 561, 639nm
  • Spectra-Physics Insight X3 Laser: range 690-1300nm with a fixed line at 1045nm
  • Objectives: Air (20x), Oil (63x), Multiphoton Immersion (20x)
  • Axio Examiner Z1 upright motorised microscope
  • Motorised XY stage: Prior Z-Deck stage with very large sample space
  • 6 x external ultra-sensitive detectors: 2 x BiG detectors (GaAsP PMTs) & 2 x NDD detectors (MA-PMTs) in cascade plus 2 x nosepiece (GaAsP PMTs) detectors
  • 5 x Internal Detectors: 32 channel array detection (GaAsP PMT), 2 x MA-PMT, Transmitted Light Detector (MA PMT) and Airyscan 2 detector (GaAsP PMT)
  • Airyscan 2 module for super-resolution imaging (120nm XY, 350nm Z resolution)
  • Integrated incubation system including large incubation chamber and temperature control
  • Integrated PicoQuant FLIM detection using 2 x FLIM detectors

NanoString molecular barcoding scanner

NanoString provides a platform for multiplex analysis of up to 800 RNA, DNA, or protein targets. The nCounter® technology is optimised for the most difficult of samples including: FFPE, tissue, lysates and biofluid samples. Highly curated panels are available for human and mouse, covering both oncology and immunology. Only 15 minutes of hands-on preparation is required for your samples, with the ability to avoid the need to amplify cDNA, convert or prepare your libraries prior to reading your sample. Scanning is complete within approximately 24 hours of commencing your experiment.