1. Microscopy and Advanced Bioimaging CoRE
microscopy

Instruments and Services

The Microscopy and Advanced Bioimaging CoRE at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is dedicated to empowering researchers with advanced imaging capabilities. Whether a project demands high-speed live-cell monitoring, super-resolved nanoscale visualization, deep-tissue exploration, or electron microscopy, our instrumentation is available to support even the most ambitious projects. Staffed by a team of specialists, the CoRE is also committed to providing tailored solutions and expertise that furthers our efforts to rapidly advance biomedical discovery.

Image Attribution: Mouse NAc, Neuropil; sample prepared, and image taken by Allison S Portela using Hitachi TEM 7700.

CoRE Staff will help you select and receive training on the appropriate microscope for your experiment. We maintain and operate several imaging systems, including:

  • Widefield Microscopes 
    • ZEISS Axio Imager.Z2 (2x)  (RRID:SCR_018876)
    • ZEISS Axio Observer (2x) (RRID:SCR_021351)
    • Leica DMi8 (RRID:SCR_026672)
    • Leica DM 6B (RRID:SCR_024857)
    • Olympus MVX10 fluorescence macroscope (RRID:SCR_018612)
    • ZEISS SteREO Lumar.V12 fluorescence macroscope
  • Confocal Microscopes
    • Super-resolution: Leica TCS SP8 with STED 3x and White Light Laser 
    • Super-resolution: Zeiss LSM 880 with 32-channel spectral GaAsP array + PMTs and the Airyscan detector  
    • Super-resolution: Zeiss LSM 980 with 32-channel spectral GaAsP array + PMTs + 2 NIR GaAsP detectors and the Airyscan 2 detector (RRID:SCR_025048)
    • Leica Stellaris 8 (2x) with White Light Laser and 4 spectral Power HyD detectors
    • Leica TCS SP8 with spectral detector, dichroic beamsplitter (RRID:SCR_018169)
    • Leica TCS SP8 with spectral detector, AOBS beamsplitter (RRID:SCR_027226)
    • Zeiss LSM 780 with 34-channel spectral detector 
    • Andor Dragonfly 620 spinning disk confocal with TIRF and SMLM capabilities, photostimulation (RRID:SCR_027225)
  • Multiphoton Microscopes
    • Olympus FVMPE-RS-with Dual Line Insight X3 laser (RRID:SCR_027234)
    • Bruker Ultima 2Pplus with Coherent Chameleon Discovery NX Dual Laser Line
  • Lightsheet Microscopes
    • LifeCanvas SmartSPIM (RRID:SCR_027239)
    • LaVision Biotec UltraMicroscope II (zoom and infinity optics available) (RRID:SCR_027238)
  • High-Content Screeners
    • Agilent Cytation C10 with Biotek Biospa 8
    • ThermoFisher CX7 LZR (RRID:SCR_020546)
  • Transmission Electron Microscopes
    • Hitachi 7500
    • Hitachi 7700 (RRID:SCR_020022)

CoRE Staff have methodically condensed the most up-to-date sample preparation techniques for microscopy into a series of presentations. Contact the CoRE directly for copies of this material and/or to have a discussion about current issues you are facing.

  • Basic Light Microscopy Sample Preparation
  • Lightsheet Sample Preparation
  • STED (super-resolution) Sample Preparation
  • SMLM (super-resolution) Sample Preparation
  • Guide for Using Multi-Area Carriers (well plates, chambered coverglass, etc.)

The MABC hosts a number of servers and computer workstations equipped with a variety of open-source and commercial image analysis software.

Servers and Workstations

  • Bruker (previously Acquifer) HIVE - for file transfer and pre-processing of large data sets, 3D visualization
  • Microscopy HPC - for analysis of extremely large data sets
  • Two terminal workstations for dedicated image analysis
  • Linux server for dedicated ClearMap analysis

Software Packages on which users can be trained and receive access:

  • FIJI/ImageJ
  • Bitplane Imaris
  • AIVIA
  • Arivis Pro and Cloud
  • QuPath
  • CellProfiler
  • Huygens Professional
  • Leica LAS X - FLIM analysis

Custom software can be installed after discussion with, and at the discretion of, CoRE Staff. Please reach out for assistance.

Scripting languages and environments available on servers:

  • Anaconda 
  • MATLAB
  • R
  • Python