3D SUper-Resolution to cryo-Electron MIcroscopy to study nanoscale subcellular dynamics and structure that alter in Neurodegenerative Diseases - 3SURE MIND

The VIB BioImaging Core is expanding its infrastructure to
create a workflow to zoom in on molecular processes that
underlie neurodegenerative diseases. The infrastructure
includes a new super-resolution microscope, which can
visualize processes inside the cell using light microscopy at
a much higher resolution than what is currently available.
The microscope also integrates a laser that can mark areas
in the investigated samples, allowing to examine these
samples by electron microscopy (reaching even higher
resolution), and thus easily connect areas of interest across
platforms. To further facilitate this, a new cryo-stage is
added to one of our electron microscopes. In this way,
samples can be kept frozen during image acquisition, a
strategy that preserves structures in biological samples far
better compared to other, chemical, fixation methods.
Using the new setup, we can investigate degenerating
neurons and tissue at much greater detail than what is
currently possible. This will allow us to better understand
which processes precisely cause brain disease, identifying
starting points for new strategies to slow down or reverse
neuronal demise and improve the lives of patients.