16 July 2018
For 10 years the Bordeaux Imaging Center (BIC), part of the Neuroscience Institute of Bordeaux, and Leica Microsystems have enjoyed a successful partnership and strong relationship. As an expression of appreciation and will to further expand it, the cooperation has been recently formally sealed with an agreement.
The Bordeaux Imaging Center, directed by Dr. Daniel Choquet, has always been at the forefront of imaging techniques, so a partnership with a pioneering microscopy company made perfect sense. The collaboration began many years ago but has now been put onto an official footing. This agreement aims to promote and establish the BIC as a new European Nanoscopy Imaging Reference Site for Leica Microsystems.
Dr. Daniel Choquet states: “Early on when we set up our core facility in 2002, we chose Leica Microsystems as our main instrument provider, due to the quality of the microscopes they manufacture, and the excellent service provided. Since then, as our facility developed, our relationship has evolved into a close partnership. Having the best, state-of-the-art instruments, a highly responsive technical team, and excellent service is key to our users. With Leica Microsystems, we find this level of excellence.”
Amongst the first microscopy systems available to researchers at the BIC were a confocal microscope and a multiphoton confocal microscopy, ideal for imaging deep into tissues as is required for brain research. Additional Leica solutions have been added to the BIC later, including electrophysiological microscopes, video microscopes, and sample preparation equipment for electron microscopy.
The Bordeaux Imaging Center was one of the first in the world to offer researchers use of a STED system. Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy, which resolves details down to 50 nm in size, was one of the nanoscopy techniques acknowledged by the 2014 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. The TCS STEDsystem was the first one commercially available to utilize this groundbreaking innovation.
Christoph Thumser, Director of Global Business Management at Leica Microsystems states: “This partnership is important, not only for the cutting-edge microscopy and cellular imaging methodologies and tools developed at the BIC, but equally for how these technologies are implemented for biological investigations. Specifically, in understanding the molecular interactions and functions of the brain and nervous system. Gaining a better understanding of how imaging technologies can be applied to pioneering biomedical research is essential to future strategies and innovations of Leica Microsystems.’’
For the past 10 years, Leica nanoscopy solutions have benefited from close collaboration with the Bordeaux Neuroscience Institute, specifically with Dr. Christel Poujol, Dr. Valentin Nagerl, Dr. Eric Hosy, and Dr. Daniel Choquet.
Today, BIC users enjoy access to a wide variety of Leica equipment, including the flagship products the SP8 STED 3X and the SR GSD 3D confocal platforms. Both award-winning systems can be used to image cellular components with a resolution surpassing the limits of diffraction, resolving details which previously were not visible. They are an essential tool in uncovering the secrets of cellular structure and function and are central to understanding the causative factors and developing therapies for a wide range of diseases.