This 5 day course is intended to train university staff, postgraduate students and biomedical scientists in the understanding and application of advanced techniques in light microscopy (LM) in the biomedical sciences.

Participants will be given theoretical and practical training in a variety of LM imaging techniques (brightfield, polarising, DIC, darkfield, slide scanning, time lapse, fluorescence, confocal) and then be expected to acquire a portfolio of images from a range of microscopes using both pre-prepared specimens and ones that they prepare themselves. In addition, course participants will acquire skills in analysing, processing and presenting still and video LM data, and be aware of the role, importance and relevance of light microscopy in biological research.

The course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (36 points) and limited to 9 students per course to ensure significant hands on time on a variety of instruments.

Aims and Objectives

By the end of the course participants should:

• Understand how basic microscopy principles apply to the various types of light microscopes available together with their advantages and limitations
• Understand fluorescent labelling procedures and how to adapt them for particular applications
• Be able to identify microscope components and set up a light microscope for K?hler illumination
• Have hands on experience of the range of light microscopes available in the BIU
• Be able to acquire multi-channel images on confocal microscopes
• Understand the concepts behind some advanced techniques in confocal microscopy.
• Be able to set up and acquire time lapse movies
• Be able to store and retrieve digital microscope images from a secure university server
• Understand basic image enhancement and processing procedures
• Prepare images and movies for powerpoint presentation to a group

Lectures

• Health & Safety
• Anatomy of a light microscope
• Fluorescence microscopy
• Immunofluorescent staining
• Non immunofluorescent staining
• Confocal microscopy
• Live cell imaging
• Advanced confocal techniques
• Workshop, problems & questions
• Image processing
• Application seminar

Total: 11 hrs

Practicals

• K?hler illumination
• Viewing specimens on different types of microscopes
• Fluorescent labelling of cell cultures
• Viewing specimens on fluorescent microscopes
• Use of time lapse and confocal microscopes (3 sessions)
• Image processing
• Micrograph & movie competition

Total: 24.5 hrs

For more information on course content and timetable, please use the download links below.

Course Dates and Booking

The course runs approximately once every 6 months and is often over subscribed. To register for a place on the next available course please contact Patricia Goggin ( p.goggin@soton.ac.uk , SGH x4815).

Notes

Due to the power and flexibility of our confocal systems, we do not expect course participants to be able to set them up for themselves after this course, rather to understand general principles and experimental considerations. Further 1 to 1 training is then available in the form of 1 day confocal masterclasses .