A Collaboration in Advanced Microscopy Technologies
Leica Microsystems and Fred Hutch collaborated to establish the first Leica Center of Excellence, or CoE, in the Pacific Northwest. The Leica CoE establishes a mutually beneficial, collaborative relationship through a combined effort to provide researchers with advanced microscopy technologies, while supporting the Hutch’s commitment to generating scientific discoveries and developing new approaches to preventing and treating cancer and related diseases.
The Leica CoE is a nonexclusive collaboration that provides Fred Hutch with additional Leica-based service and support, access to Leica’s newest technologies, increased training, and access to engineers for troubleshooting and customization. Through this collaboration, Fred Hutch researchers have the opportunity to participate in product beta-testing, and scientists who develop appropriate new technology or techniques have access to high-level product and R&D management to explore possible collaboration and/or commercialization. In return, Fred Hutch has committed to engagement from our scientific community and a purchase requirement that does not preclude us from purchasing equipment from other vendors.
Thus, the Leica CoE provides Fred Hutch the opportunity to expand our reputation within the cell biology and microscopy communities while driving innovation in the microscopy field through valuable feedback and collaboration.
Leica Microsystems collaborates with investigators directly, outside of Fred Hutch Shared Resources, but will focus on the equipment available for use by all Shared Resources customers, both within and outside the Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium.
Collaboration Benefits
- Collaboration beyond typical vendor relationship
- Access for scientists to cutting-edge imaging tools
- Training courses and expert technical support for scientists
- Maximized efficiency, utilization and instrument up-time
- PremiumCare service contracts
- Extension to life of existing equipment (including third-party components)
- Showcase for Leica in the local microscopy community
- Platform for Leica to test new ideas and prototypes of products
- Improved efficiency in product demonstrations
- Increased awareness of Leica products in the North American scientific community
- Potential to beta-test and premarket Leica systems and instruments
The Science Lab is the knowledge portal of Leica Microsystems and offers scientific research and teaching material on the subjects of microscopy. The content is designed to support beginners, experienced practitioners and scientists alike in their everyday work and experiments. Explore interactive tutorials and application notes, discover the basics of microscopy as well as high-end-technologies.
Shared Resource Instruments
The Leica TCS SP8 in the Cellular Imaging shared resource gives you the freedom to conveniently perform any advanced live cell imaging method with reliable results. You can expect the highest image quality and specimen viability from its light-efficient detection and high-speed scanning system. With the exclusive White Light Laser, which covers the full spectrum of visible light, you have full flexibility for your multicolor experiments. Study nanoscopic detail with STED super-resolution, and add a new dimension of fluorescence lifetime data to your experiments with FALCON and Tau-STED FLIM-based imaging.
Based on the modular Leica DMi8 inverted microscope platform for routine to advanced live cell imaging, the Instant SIM, or iSIM, system (provided through BioVision Technologies) delivers a capture rate of 30-50 frames per second and 140 nm XY super-resolution capability. This system in the Cellular Imaging shared resource includes photo-activation and photo-ablation capabilities to address a wide variety of live cell applications.
Laser microdissection, or LMD — also known as laser capture microdissection or LCM — enables you to isolate regions of interest from entire areas of tissue down to single cells or even subcellular structures such as chromosomes. Researchers in neurology, cancer research, plant analysis and climate research rely on this method. The Leica CoE’s LMD6 system in the Experimental Histopathology shared resource includes a new LMT stage capable of 96-well laser capture for genomics or proteomics analysis.
This fully motorized DMi8 imaging system in the Experimental Histopathology shared resource with phase, brightfield and fluorescence capability includes a scanning stage and Leica LAS X Navigator software with a four-slide holder for histology and fluorescence stage scanning. Navigator is a powerful tool that performs like GPS for your cells, allowing you to quickly create sample overviews and locate regions of interest for automated high-resolution image acquisition.