The Leica SP5 II confocal and multiphoton microscope
This instrument covers a broad range of requirements in confocal and multiphoton imaging - with the full array of scan speeds at highest resolution. You can now image your live cells then image the same “dynamic” event later at high resolution in the TEM. The microscope is equipped with a new Spectra-Physics Mai Tai DeepSee™ Ti:Sapphire femtosecond pulsed laser, specialised objectives and external non-descanned detectors. This means that we can image more than 300 microns deep into thick specimens without any signal drop-off.

The system is equipped with a resonance and galvanometer scanner, so that we can now image around three times faster at higher resolution than ever before (e.g., a 512 x 128 pixel array every 15 ms).

Thirdly, the system is equipped with time-correlated single-photon-counting (TCSPC) fluorescence-lifetime imaging (FLIM). This means that we can measure the lifetime of a fluorophore faster and more accurately than before at various excitation wavelengths.

Specialists: Ellie Kable, Dr Paul Xu

Olympus FluoView FV1000 Confocal Microscope
Equipped with 405, 458, 488, 514, 559 and 633 nm lasers and a transmitted light detector allowing for the majority of fluorophores to be imaged with a beautiful DIC (or brightfield) overlay. Fantastic spectral resolution that enalbles users to collect the emission profile of a visible fluorophore at any point in their sample. This gives rise to a spectral un-mixing function, which allows separation of spectrally close fluorophores, particularly handy for users with autofluorescence interfering with the signal of their labelled target of interest. The instrument allows to bleach/activate and image at the same time, due to the second scanner that is integrated in the system. Users performing FRET, FRAP, FLIP, photoactivation or uncaging studies, will find this is particularly handy. Offers scanning speed of up to 1 frame every 0.065 s, in bidirectional mode. This, combined with the heated-stage insert, results in excellent temporal resolution for the short-term imaging of living cells. 
Specialist: Minh Huynh, Dr Paul Xu

Olympus CellR Live-Cell Microscope
Equipped with a stage-top incubator and CO₂ controller, to allow the long-term imaging of cells. Ability to image extremely quickly. ZDC or 'zero drift control' ensures images stay in focus throughout the acquisition time. The microscope is also equipped with a Marzhauzer motorised stage, that with precision in X, Y and Z, and can return to a single point when imaging multiple points in a sample.
Specialist: Minh Huynh, Dr Paul Xu

Olympus TIRF (Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence) Microscope
TIRF, it is technique employed to look at events that occur at interfaces of objects with different refractive indices. See events that occur at the cell membrane versus those that occur within the cytoplasm, something that is unachievable by traditional light microscopy techniques due to axial resolution limitations. The system is equipped with a 488 nm laser for TIRF and an anti-vibration table, along with the addition of standard filter sets, making it the most sensitive of all our fluorescent microscopes.
Specialist: Minh Huynh, Dr Paul Xu

Nikon C1 LIMO Confocal Microscope with Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
Confocal microscope with three detectors and 3 solid-state lasers (405nm, 488nm, 561nm) for standard confocal imaging, and picosecond pulsed 440nm laser and high-speed gated detection system for lifetime imaging. Standard filter sets plus CFP/YFP and red/far red. Inverted microscope, with standard objectives and water immersion objective optimised for violet excitation. Software for lifetime measurement, ratiometric imaging and 3D reconstruction. Used in life sciences; lifetime imaging permits Förster Resonant Energy Transfer (FRET) studies of molecular interactions. As a standard confocal the 405nm laser permits imaging of DAPI and similar nuclear stains.

Example image:
Upper part - 3-channel confocal image of coral Acropora millepora showing fluorescent pigments (green) and symbiotic algae (red). Lower picture fluorescence lifetime images of the coral pigments in the same field of view.

Specialists: Ellie Kable, Dr Paul Xu

Nikon Eclipse E800 Fluorescence Microscope (SensiCam)
General-use light and fluorescence microscope for life sciences, material scicence and medical applications. Standard filter sets (FITC, GFP, Rhodamine, DAPI) for fluorescence. Bright field, phase and Nomarski optics. SensiCam 12-bit cooled imaging camera for digital image capture.

Example image:
Prepared fluid mount of Spirogyra showing Nomarski optics and fluorescence using three standard filter sets (FITC, Rhodamine and DAPI).

Specialists: Ellie Kable, Dr Paul Xu

Zeiss Axioskop 2 MAT Light Microscope
General use light microscope for life sciences, material scicence and medical applications. Bright field and DIC. It has a Zeiss Axiocam Digital Camera and Zeiss Axiovision Image Analysis Software.

Example image: Starch grains.

Specialist:Dr Paul Xu

Olympus BX61 Motorized System Microscope (SIS)

Reflected and transmitted light microscope. Image analysis system for material and life science. Useful for thick specimens. Also operates as a fluorescence microscope.