The Microscopy Innovation Centre (MIC) is a Core Facility at King's College London, providing access to advanced light microscopy technologies, image analysis tools, and expert support for cutting-edge research. The MIC collaborates with academic researchers and industrial partners to develop, maintain, and house state-of-the-art microscopy instrumentation, enabling innovative research through advanced imaging capabilities.
Our vision is to be a hub for innovative microscopy, offering a comprehensive suite of advanced imaging techniques and analysis tools to the research community. By working closely with our researchers and strategic industry partners, we aim to build a world-class facility that delivers unique imaging solutions to drive biomedical discoveries.
The facility also offers flexible rental space for product demonstrations, training courses, and technical workshops.
The MIC provides the wider academic and industrial research community with comprehensive access, training, and support in advanced microscopy techniques. Staffed by experienced microscopists, we deliver tailored user training, maintenance, and modifications.
We welcome new collaborations from research, industry, or companies. By offering our expertise, as well as demonstration and development space, we aim to be a hub in central London for innovative microscopy.
In addition to experimental planning and imaging consultation, we currently offer the below microscopy techniques in the facility.
FLIM – Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy
FLIM measures fluorescence decay times to reveal molecular environment, interactions, and metabolism in living samples as well as separating otherwise indistinguishable fluorophores.
Two-photon microscopy & SHG Imaging
Two-photon microscopy enables deep, high-resolution imaging of living tissues and can be combined with lifetime detection for two-photon FLIM. The same excitation lasers can also be used for Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) imaging, a nonlinear optical imaging technique that provides label-free imaging of non-centrosymmetric structures.
Light sheet microscopy
Light sheet microscopy enables fast, gentle 3D imaging of living samples with reduced photodamage and high volumetric resolution.
SMLM - Single Molecule Localisation Microscopy (super resolution imaging)
Single molecule localisation microscopy maps fluorescent molecules with nanometre precision to reveal cellular structures beyond the diffraction limit.
Bespoke microscopy platforms
Questions or needs that cannot be addressed adequately with existing technologies may be addressable through the development of bespoke optical solutions.
In addition to the commercial systems, the Microscopy Innovation Centre also engages in the development of new and bespoke microscopes. These can be either completely novel concepts or translation of tested but non-commercially available technologies to offer it to a wider user base.
Facility staff
Microscopy Innovation Centre Manager
Microscopy Innovation Centre - Deputy Manager
Research Associate
Affiliated academics
Dean of Research Excellence Frameworks
Professor in Optical Oncology
Reader in Cell Biophysics
Professor of Physics
UKRI Future Leaders Research Fellow
Professor of Developmental Neurophysiology
Royal Society University Research Fellow
Having the scope to offer both cutting-edge ‘home-built’ microscopes, and innovative commercial systems, the MIC provides access to the latest in advanced microscopy techniques for the wider community.
Our equipment is well supported by MIC staff, who carry out user training, support, maintenance as well as modifications, where applicable.
Related equipment
STELLARIS 8 FALCON DIVE
The STELLARIS 8 FALCON DIVE (FAst Lifetime CONtrast) is our easy-to-use microscope for Fluorescence Lifetime IMaging (FLIM), confocal and multiphoton imaging.
Abbelight SAFe MN360 / Nikon AXR
Multi-channel super resolution SMLM is possible on our Abbelight SAFe MN360 system, coupled onto a Nikon AXR confocal base.
Viventis Deep Dual View Light Sheet Microscope
An advanced light-sheet fluorescence imaging platform designed for high-resolution, long-term volumetric imaging of samples up to hundreds of micrometres.
Bespoke microscopy platforms
The Microscopy Innovation Centre engages in the development of new and bespoke microscopes.
Your hub for next generation imaging solutions
Although the MIC is a core facility, we operate slightly different from many other core facilities. Our mission is not only to house and offer equipment to the wider research community, but to work alongside researchers to help develop and facilitate the use of niche and non-standard light microscopy techniques and application. We partner with researchers and industrial partners to develop new workflows and equipment that meet the needs of our users and undertake projects that we believe can open up new areas of application and utilisation.
We work with research leaders to secure funding and new equipment. This has included partnering with Prof. Simon Ameer-Beg to house the ‘discoSPIM’ (Prof. Maddy Parsons, Wellcome Leap, 2021), and with Dr. Susan Cox to build our Janelia Lattice Light sheet (BBSRC ALERT, 2018).
In 2022 the MIC received two vouchers from the RMS to enable artifact free high speed 3D localisation microscopy (Dr Susan Cox, Nikon), and to further develop Fluorescence Lifetime Resolved Single Molecule Localisation Microscopy (Prof Simon Ameer-Beg, Nano Clinical). The MIC has also successfully supported bids for new microscopes such as the Leica Stellaris 8 Falcon Dive (Prof. Simon Ameer-Beg, MRC Equipment grant 2022) and the Nikon AX/Abbelight SAFe 360 (Prof. Juan Burrone, BBSRC ALERT 2022)
2024
Balukova, A. et al. (2024) ‘Cellular Imaging and Time-Domain FLIM Studies of Meso-Tetraphenylporphine Disulfonate as a Photosensitising Agent in 2D and 3D Models’, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(8), p. 4222. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084222.
Cimini, B.A. et al. (2024) ‘The crucial role of bioimage analysts in scientific research and publication’, Journal of Cell Science, 137(20), p. jcs262322. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.262322.
Phillips, T.A. et al. (2024) ‘Imaging actin organisation and dynamics in 3D’, Journal of Cell Science, 137(2), p. jcs261389. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.261389.
Sivagurunathan, S. et al. (2024) ‘Bridging imaging users to imaging analysis – A community survey’, Journal of Microscopy, 296(3), pp. 199–213. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jmi.13229.
At the Microscopy Innovation Centre, we are committed to promoting collaborative research and providing wider access to our state-of-the-art core facilities. We actively support researchers from across King’s College London, as well as external academic and industry users.
Rates vary depending on funding source. Researchers at King’s can access instruments and services through the PPMS booking portal.
External academic researchers can access our facilities and technical expertise for collaborative research and academic projects.
We also offer tailored access for industry and commercial users, including flexible rental space for product demonstrations, company trainings, and technical workshops.
We welcome opportunities to collaborate with researchers and organisations seeking advanced microscopy capabilities and expert support.
Contact us
To learn more about accessing our facilities or collaborating with us, please contact our team at mic@kcl.ac.uk.
The MIC provides the wider academic and industrial research community with comprehensive access, training, and support in advanced microscopy techniques. Staffed by experienced microscopists, we deliver tailored user training, maintenance, and modifications.
We welcome new collaborations from research, industry, or companies. By offering our expertise, as well as demonstration and development space, we aim to be a hub in central London for innovative microscopy.
In addition to experimental planning and imaging consultation, we currently offer the below microscopy techniques in the facility.
FLIM – Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy
FLIM measures fluorescence decay times to reveal molecular environment, interactions, and metabolism in living samples as well as separating otherwise indistinguishable fluorophores.
Two-photon microscopy & SHG Imaging
Two-photon microscopy enables deep, high-resolution imaging of living tissues and can be combined with lifetime detection for two-photon FLIM. The same excitation lasers can also be used for Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) imaging, a nonlinear optical imaging technique that provides label-free imaging of non-centrosymmetric structures.
Light sheet microscopy
Light sheet microscopy enables fast, gentle 3D imaging of living samples with reduced photodamage and high volumetric resolution.
SMLM - Single Molecule Localisation Microscopy (super resolution imaging)
Single molecule localisation microscopy maps fluorescent molecules with nanometre precision to reveal cellular structures beyond the diffraction limit.
Bespoke microscopy platforms
Questions or needs that cannot be addressed adequately with existing technologies may be addressable through the development of bespoke optical solutions.
In addition to the commercial systems, the Microscopy Innovation Centre also engages in the development of new and bespoke microscopes. These can be either completely novel concepts or translation of tested but non-commercially available technologies to offer it to a wider user base.
Facility staff
Microscopy Innovation Centre Manager
Microscopy Innovation Centre - Deputy Manager
Research Associate
Affiliated academics
Dean of Research Excellence Frameworks
Professor in Optical Oncology
Reader in Cell Biophysics
Professor of Physics
UKRI Future Leaders Research Fellow
Professor of Developmental Neurophysiology
Royal Society University Research Fellow
Having the scope to offer both cutting-edge ‘home-built’ microscopes, and innovative commercial systems, the MIC provides access to the latest in advanced microscopy techniques for the wider community.
Our equipment is well supported by MIC staff, who carry out user training, support, maintenance as well as modifications, where applicable.
Related equipment
STELLARIS 8 FALCON DIVE
The STELLARIS 8 FALCON DIVE (FAst Lifetime CONtrast) is our easy-to-use microscope for Fluorescence Lifetime IMaging (FLIM), confocal and multiphoton imaging.
Abbelight SAFe MN360 / Nikon AXR
Multi-channel super resolution SMLM is possible on our Abbelight SAFe MN360 system, coupled onto a Nikon AXR confocal base.
Viventis Deep Dual View Light Sheet Microscope
An advanced light-sheet fluorescence imaging platform designed for high-resolution, long-term volumetric imaging of samples up to hundreds of micrometres.
Bespoke microscopy platforms
The Microscopy Innovation Centre engages in the development of new and bespoke microscopes.
Your hub for next generation imaging solutions
Although the MIC is a core facility, we operate slightly different from many other core facilities. Our mission is not only to house and offer equipment to the wider research community, but to work alongside researchers to help develop and facilitate the use of niche and non-standard light microscopy techniques and application. We partner with researchers and industrial partners to develop new workflows and equipment that meet the needs of our users and undertake projects that we believe can open up new areas of application and utilisation.
We work with research leaders to secure funding and new equipment. This has included partnering with Prof. Simon Ameer-Beg to house the ‘discoSPIM’ (Prof. Maddy Parsons, Wellcome Leap, 2021), and with Dr. Susan Cox to build our Janelia Lattice Light sheet (BBSRC ALERT, 2018).
In 2022 the MIC received two vouchers from the RMS to enable artifact free high speed 3D localisation microscopy (Dr Susan Cox, Nikon), and to further develop Fluorescence Lifetime Resolved Single Molecule Localisation Microscopy (Prof Simon Ameer-Beg, Nano Clinical). The MIC has also successfully supported bids for new microscopes such as the Leica Stellaris 8 Falcon Dive (Prof. Simon Ameer-Beg, MRC Equipment grant 2022) and the Nikon AX/Abbelight SAFe 360 (Prof. Juan Burrone, BBSRC ALERT 2022)
2024
Balukova, A. et al. (2024) ‘Cellular Imaging and Time-Domain FLIM Studies of Meso-Tetraphenylporphine Disulfonate as a Photosensitising Agent in 2D and 3D Models’, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(8), p. 4222. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084222.
Cimini, B.A. et al. (2024) ‘The crucial role of bioimage analysts in scientific research and publication’, Journal of Cell Science, 137(20), p. jcs262322. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.262322.
Phillips, T.A. et al. (2024) ‘Imaging actin organisation and dynamics in 3D’, Journal of Cell Science, 137(2), p. jcs261389. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.261389.
Sivagurunathan, S. et al. (2024) ‘Bridging imaging users to imaging analysis – A community survey’, Journal of Microscopy, 296(3), pp. 199–213. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jmi.13229.
At the Microscopy Innovation Centre, we are committed to promoting collaborative research and providing wider access to our state-of-the-art core facilities. We actively support researchers from across King’s College London, as well as external academic and industry users.
Rates vary depending on funding source. Researchers at King’s can access instruments and services through the PPMS booking portal.
External academic researchers can access our facilities and technical expertise for collaborative research and academic projects.
We also offer tailored access for industry and commercial users, including flexible rental space for product demonstrations, company trainings, and technical workshops.
We welcome opportunities to collaborate with researchers and organisations seeking advanced microscopy capabilities and expert support.
Contact us
To learn more about accessing our facilities or collaborating with us, please contact our team at mic@kcl.ac.uk.
Partners
The Microscopy Innovation Centre is part of the Euro BioImaging UK Node.
Euro BioImaging
Contact us
3rd Floor, Hodgkin Building Guys Campus King’s College London London, SE1 1UL