Centre for Advanced Histology and Microscopy
The Centre for Advanced Histology & Microscopy (CAHM) provides researchers with access to equipment for the preparation, visualisation, and quantification of biological specimens at the cellular and subcellular levels utilising advanced histology and microscopy techniques. Our centre is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments and expertise in histology and microscopy fields. Researchers can access the equipment via self-service or engage our experienced centre staff on a fee-for-service basis.
Centre for Advanced Histology and Microscopy platforms and research capabilities
CAHM houses 4 different main platforms:
Optical microscopy
Our Advanced Optical Microscopy Platform incorporates multiple imaging modalities including wide-field microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, spinning disk confocal microscopy, multi-photon intravital imaging, and super resolution microscopy.
Services and support offered
- Assistance with experimental design and microscope selection
- Training and support on all microscopes
- Imaging of fixed or living cells and tissues
Key Equipment
Confocal Microscopes
- Nikon SoRa Spinning Disk Confocal (with super resolution capability). Equipped with Nikon Ti-E, Yokogawa W1 spinning disk (50 um and SoRa disks), environmental chamber (Oko Labs) and 2x Andor Sona sCMOS camers. Laser lines: 405, 445, 488, 515, 561 and 640nm.
- Olympus FV3000 confocal (with live cell imaging capability). Equipped with an Olympus IX83 SSU motorised stage and Ludin environmental chamber. Laser lines: 405, 445, 488, 515, 561, 594, 633nm.
- Olympus FV3000 confocal. Equipped with an Olympus IX83 SSU motorised stage. Laser lines: 405, 488, 561 and 633nm.
- Zeiss Elyra 780 confocal equipped with a Zeiss Observer Z1 microscope and Tokai hit environmental chamber for live cell imaging. Laser lines for confocal: 405, 458, 488, 514 and 633nm
- Nikon C2 confocal equipped with Eclipse Ni-E microscope. Laser lines: 405, 488, 561 and 640nm
Super Resolution Microscope
- Zeiss Elyra PS1 (SIM/3D PALM/dSTORM/TIRF). Equipped with a Zeiss Observer Z1 microscope and Tokai Hit environmental chamber for live cell imaging. Laser lines for TIRF/Super-Resolution: 405, 488, 561 and 633nm.
Multiphoton Microscope
- Olympus FVMPE-RS Upright multiphoton microscope with dual pulsed lasers (Mai Tai and Insight lasers) and a SIM scanner. Equipped with a BX63 microscope, motorised stage, temperature controller, heat pad, and anaesthesia apparatus for intravital imaging.
Widefield Microscopes (all equipped with DIC and epifluorescence)
- Olympus IX83 optimised for ultra-fast image capture. Equipped with motorised Prior stage and Ludin environmental chamber for live cell imaging. Filter wheels enable different combinations of excitation/emission filters.
- Olympus BX53 microscope.
- Zeiss Axiovert microscope.
Automated slide scanner
- Olympus VS120 automated slide scanner equipped with a BX61VS microscope. Brightfield imaging are available. 100 slides capacity.
- SLIDEVIEW VS200 automated slide scanner. Brightfield, polarised and epi-fluorescence imaging (with near IR filter) imaging capabilities. 210 slides capacity.
Potential applications
- Evaluate cellular processes including cell-cell interactions, mechanisms of cell death, cell proliferation and differentiation, and intracellular signalling pathways in real time using time-lapse imaging.
- Investigate the mechanisms underlying asymmetric cell division and cell fate determination in real-time over multiple generations with low phototoxicity using the spinning disc confocal microscope.
- Utilise super-resolution microscopy to examine the distribution of specific proteins beyond the resolution of routine confocal microscopes.
- Examine the mechanisms of cancer metastasis, the interaction of immune cells with cancer cells, the development of tumour over time, or the efficiency of chemotherapeutic agents in destroying cancer cells in vivo with the multiphoton microscope.
- Use the SIM scanner on the multiphoton microscope to bleach regions of interest or photoconvert fluorescent proteins in a designated region to examine protein kinetics.
Multiplex Immunohistochemistry and Spatial Multi-omics
Multiplex immunohistochemistry allows simultaneous imaging of multiple antibodies (maximum of 8 markers) on the same tissue section and analyse different biomarkers spatially. We have developed different human and mouse OPAL panels including T cell panel, Pan immune panel and tissue-resident memory T-cells (TRM) panel. We also provide service to optimise your own customised panel with your antibody list.
Spatial multi-omics platforms allow detection of expression of ultra-high plex genomics and proteomics to study multiple molecular layers within cells or tissues while preserving their spatial context. These approaches enable a comprehensive understanding of complex biological processes and disease mechanisms.
Services and support offered
- Assistance with experimental design
- Training and support on all instruments
- Antibody and panel optimisation
- Fee-for-service staining and scanning
Key Equipment
Vectra microscope for spectral separation of multiplex-IHC samples such as OPAL (7-plex)
- Polaris microscope for spectral separation of multiplex-IHC samples such as OPAL (9-plex)
- Nanostring GeoMX Digital Spatial Profiler for the quantification of up to 570 protein panel or up to whole transcriptomics targets – in collaboration with Molecular Genomics Core
- CytAssist – 10X Visium sample preparation – in collaboration with Molecular Genomics Core
Image Analysis
Our image analysis platform consists of 5 dedicated image analysis computers with associated software packages (commercial and free source software) with capabilities of visualisation and quantification of 2D, 3D and 4D microscopy data.
Services and support offered
- Assistance with analysis pipeline
- Training and support on all analysis software
- Fee-for-service analysis
Available analysis software
- HALO (IndicaLabs)– commercial whole slide scan 2D image analysis platform with multichannel (chromogenic and fluorescence images) and spatial analysis capabilities, including TMA and FISH image analysis
- MetaMorph, Imaris, Volocity and Arivis – commercial 2D, 3D and 4D image analysis platforms
- FIJI/ImageJ and QuPATH – open software with macro writing service available
- CellSens AI – Olympus image analysis platform with AI capability
- NIS Elements AI – Nikon image analysis platform with AI capability
- Zen – Zeiss image analysis platform
- inFORM and PhenoChart – Vectra 3 and POLARIS image processing platform
Histology
Our Advanced Histology Platform provides a histology service dedicated to research. We provide fee-for-service histology workflows for paraffin embedded (FFPE) and cryo-embedded (FF) samples including sectioning and routine histology staining. We also provide special histological staining to identify specific cells/structures, such as Oil Red O (lipid), periodic acid Schiff’s stain (glycogen), Congo Red (amyloid), Masson trichrome (muscle, collagen fibres, fibrin) and Pearls’ Prussian blue (hemosiderin), Picrosirius (collagen type I and type III), Pentachrome (collagen, elastin, muscle, mucin and fibrin).
Services and support offered
- Tissue processing and embedding
- Paraffin sectioning of tissues
- Frozen sectioning of tissues
- Bone decalcification
- Coverslipping
- Routine and special histology staining
Key Equipment
- Tissue Tek VIP 6 and Leica CM3050 S Tissue processors
- Thermo fisher Cryostar NX70 Cryostat
- Sakura Tissue-Tek TEC embedding system
- Leica XL Auto-stainer
- Instrumel GCS600 Coverslipper
- Dako USS Immunostainer
- Epredia HM355S Rotary Microtomes
- Epredia HM340E Rotary Microtome
- Leica RM2255 Rotary Microtome
- Leica Vibratome
- Sysmex cell analyser
Experimental design
We are happy to be involved in all stages of your experimental design, including grant writing, selecting optimal panels/antibodies, deciding which microscope is appropriate to address your research question, providing estimate quotes for budgeting etc. Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a confidential discussion.
Online Resources
We provide online resources for Centre for Advanced Histology and Microscopy (CAHM) workshops, analysis software, and online learning. (Recordings available via our YouTube page)
Team Members
Dr Metta Jana, Dr Rejhan Idrizi, Dr Han Aw Yeang, Dhanya Menon, Barbara Przybylowski, Judy Borg, Leah Adolph
Contact
For optical microscopy, image analysis, multiplex immunohistochemistry and spatial multi-omics enquiries, please contact CAHM manager (interim), Dr Metta Jana (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 8559 7416)
For Histology enquiries, please contact histology team leader, Dhanya Menon (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 8559 7833)
For all other enquiries, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Acknowledgements
