Platform leaders: Oddmund Bakke, Cinzia Progida
Senior Engineer: Linda H. Haugen
Senior Engineer: Xian Hu (Edna)
Senior Engineer: Frode M. Skjeldal
Visiting Address: Kristine Bonnevies hus
Blindernveien 31, 0371 Oslo, Norway
About the NorMIC Imaging Platform
The NorMIC Imaging platform at the Institute for Biosciences (IBV) imaging platform is together with a facility at the University Hospital, Montebello a platform node in the Eurobioimaging system. The IBV platform is a specialized microscopy unit for the subcellular study of living and fixed cells. The instrumentation includes advanced confocal laser scanning microscopes with super resolution capabilities, total internal reflection (TIRF) microscopy, electron microscopy (EM) and wide-field fluorescence microscopy. A main focus has been the dynamics of intracellular vesicle traffic, cell division, cell migration and immune cell interactions in addition to imaging of fixed samples. We have also experience in studies of plants, zebrafish and small organs and we are open for new challenges.
The organization of the Imaging Platform as a core facility implies that all researchers in Norway are welcome users at equal terms through our booking system. The Imaging Platform offers technical expertise, use of confocal instruments after booking/availability (new users will need to go through training/assessment procedure) and access to immuno-EM techniques. We also offer imaging courses, in particular the NorMIC series funded by Centre for Digital Life, (digitallifenorway.org). . The advanced imaging instrument have mostly been funded by grants from the Norwegian Research council.
News, Events and NorMIC Workshop Series
Instruments
Microscopes
- Abberior Facility-Line FLIM-STED : Point scanning confocal with super resolution STED/3D STED and Fluroscence Lifetime imaging module.
- Nikon Ji with Crest Spinning disk, room 3604: Spinning disk confocal
- Olympus SpinSR SoRa, room 3604: Spinning disk confocal with Re-scan superresolution and FRAP capability.
- Zeiss LSM880, Airyscan , room 3103 : Point scan confocal with Image Scanning Super resolution(Airyscan) and spectral scanning capability.
- Andor DragonFly, room 3103 : Spinning disk confocal with FRAP and TIRF capability.
- Andor Revolution XD spinning disk, room 3626a: Spinning disk confocal.
- Olympus FluoView 1000 inverted, room 3604: Point scanning confocal
- Olympus FluoView 1000 upright, room 2616: Point scanning confocal
- Leica TIRF Microscope, room 3604: TIRF microscope
Workstation and Softwares
- Imaris
- Huygens (Remote license, user can run image processing on own computer remotely)
- Analysis Workstations, room 2616, 3604 and 3103
3D Printers
Elegoo Saturn 3 Resin 3D Printer
Sample Preparation
We have a small cell culture lab equipped with safety bench, incubator, centrifuge, fridge and etc in room 3103 for our user to perform simple sample preparation work.
Microscope Performance Test
We have an Argolight HM test slide available for evaluating the performance of optical microscopes. If users suspect one of our microscope is not performing to specifications, they can request a performance check using the Argolight HM slide.
Booking system - BookitLab
The Oslo NorMIC Imaging facility at IBV using BookitLab as our booking system. This is an online laboratory facility event information and booking system. All invoicing and management of our imaging facility is administrated through this booking system.
Click here to download a Short User Guide to BookitLab
As a user of BookitLab you will be able to do the following:
- Book training with the facility staff
- Book the different microscopes and workstations
- Email messages to the facility staff
- See data reports and invoice information
- Get updated information from the facility staff
Booking rules
- You can book three time slots per week.
- The time slots should not exceed 4 hours.
- Preferred booking slots would be 08.00-12-00 and 12.00-16.00.
- For longer experiments, afternoon sessions are advised.
- Cancellations have to be 24 hrs in advance, otherwise notice the imaging facility staff.
- If you have special requirements for you experiments, please contact the imaging facility staff.
Links
Go to the UiO BookitLab login page
Description of services
The NorMIC imaging facility offers the following services:
Consultation:
We provide guidance to user in selecting the most appropriate microscopy techniques for their projects and help optimize their imaging experimental designs.
Microscope operational training:
To use a specific microscope independently, every user must complete a mandatory three-hour operational training for that microscope. The training includes instructions on how to switch the instrument on and off, prepare the microscope for your particular experiment, perform a simple clean-up after the experiment, and operate the microscope according to your specific needs, etc.
Usage of microscope:
Upon completing the operational training, the user will be granted access to the booking system and will be able to reserve and use the equipment independently. Should the need arise, staff-assisted microscope usage can also be arranged by booking in advance.
Microscope imaging experiment:
Upon request, the imaging platform staff can carry out full imaging experiments, encompassing everything from sample preparation to imaging and data analysis.
Usage of image processing softwares and workstation
Platform users are also able to reserve and utilize the image processing workstations to perform image analysis using various commercial and non-commercial softwares.
Bi-annual theory training Workshops: The NorMIC Workshop Series
Services for Other Imaging Platforms or High-End Microscope Owners
We possess an Argolight HM test slide for assessing the performance of optical microscopes, which we are pleased to lend to other platforms or high-end microscope owners in UiO for benchmarking their microscope's performance.
For NorMIC workshop teaching purposes, we have a UC-2 portable printed microscope available. Our colleagues at UiO are welcome to borrow this kit for optical teaching activities.