Cutting-edge facility launched

In focus: Dr Joerg Lindenau, Zeiss applications specialist from Jena, Germany, and Dr Dirk Lang, senior lecturer of the Department Human Biology, at work in the new Advanced Microscope Imaging Facility.

UCT's Department of Human Biology launched its new Advanced Microscope Imaging Facility on 28 January.

The facility was established through the joint efforts of more than 20 co-applicants and with funding from the National Research Foundation's National Equipment Programme, the Cancer Research Trust and UCT.

One of the key pieces of equipment is the Zeiss LSM510 Confocal Microscope, which is capable of performing a multitude of functions required in cutting-edge cell biology and biomedical research.

The launch function took the form of a day-long introductory workshop on confocal microscopy, which included several demonstrations, discussions and a guided tour.

"This imaging facility is not only for the benefit of the scientists here at UCT," says Professor Kit Vaughan, deputy dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences. "It is both a national and a regional asset, and we welcome its utilisation by all interested scientists, whether they are from academia or industry."

Although it has not been officially commissioned yet, the facility is already participating in several projects, and publications using data generated there are expected to be submitted soon.