Advanced BioImaging Facility (ABIF)

McGill University, Montréal, Québec
What the facility does

State-of-the-art light microscopy (optical, confocal, spectral)

Areas of expertise

The Advanced BioImaging Facility (ABIF) offers 17 state-of-the-art light microscopy platforms and the training and expertise required to use the equipment to its full potential. In-depth consultations, ongoing support, image processing, image analysis and preparation of data for publication all contribute to using researchers’ time effectively, high-quality data and elevating research projects to the next level. The facility has expertise in many areas of cellular imaging, including, but not limited to, live cell imaging, High-Content Screening (HCS), Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP), Fluorescence-lifetime imaging (FLIM), Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), image-correlation spectroscopy, Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF), spectral imaging, high-content screening, multi-photon imaging, Light Sheet, Tissue Clearing, cellular-image analysis, quantitative image analysis and custom-image analysis.

Research services

Free consultations, one-on-one training, confocal microscopy, Fluorescence-lifetime imaging (FLIM), wide-field microscopy, deconvolution, live cell time lapse, multi-colour imaging, spectral imaging, tiling for high-resolution imaging of large samples, workshops, courses, tutorials, product information sessions, equipment demonstrations

Sectors of application
  • Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment

Equipment

Function

LSM710 confocal

Spectral imaging, photomanipulation, raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS), FRET, tiling, multi-position live cell time lapse

LSM710-FLIM confocal

Time-correlated photon-counting fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope

AxioObserver

Multi-colour epifluorescence, phase contrast, differential interference contrast , bright field, tiling, multi-position live cell time lapse

Axioskop

Manual upright widefield

High-content screening (HCS)

Live cell time lapse combined with up to five-colour wide-field imaging. From microscope slides to 384-well plate formats. Algorithms for cell cycle, translocation, vesicle counting, cell scoring, autophagy, cell health, live/dead cell assays, mitotic index, neurite outgrowth, database and file server.

Lightsheet Z1

Selective plane illumination microscope, fast imaging, live or cleared sample, multi-colour

LSM800 confocal

Multi-colour z-stack, tiling, multi-position, time lapse

Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF)/Spinning Disk Confocal microscope

Live cell and image correlation TIRF microscopy, spinning disk confocal, fast multicolour imaging, live cell

LSM880-Intravital

Multiphoton excitation, slice culture imaging, thick sample imaging, intravital imaging

X-Clarity workstation

Clear excess lipid and organic matter from tissues or whole organs

Analysis Workstations

High-end up-to-date workstations imaging software for quantifying, detailing and improving imaging