imaging centre Archives

20 March 2025 Collage with the left image showing two male scientists, one of whom is looking into a microscope, and the right image showing microscopy images of nuclear pore complexes captured using a MINFLUX set-up. The NPCs appear as small bright dots arranged in rough circles on a dark background.

Collage with the left image showing two male scientists, one of whom is looking into a microscope, and the right image showing microscopy images of nuclear pore complexes captured using a MINFLUX set-up. The NPCs appear as small bright dots arranged in rough circles on a dark background.

New imaging reveals the secrets of cellular traffic control

Texas A&M University researchers work with experts from EMBL Imaging Centre to uncover how molecules navigate the nuclear pore complex.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2025

science-technology

17 February 2025 The visual has three circles filled with microscopy images. The first presents rectangles with green points in a middle section. The second a grey cylinder form with a blue sectioning rectangle. The last shows a blue form with microscopic resolution.

The visual has three circles filled with microscopy images. The first presents rectangles with green points in a middle section. The second a grey cylinder form with a blue sectioning rectangle. The last shows a blue form with microscopic resolution.

Taking biological imaging to the next level

New funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) supports two multidisciplinary projects across EMBL’s units and sites to support the development of imaging technologies.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2025

science-technology

3 January 2025 Collage of photos from outside and within the EMBL Imaging Centre

From the bench to the EMBL Imaging Centre: when science meets art

Scientists share their experiences of creating stunning images at the EMBL Imaging Centre.

CONNECTIONS

2025

connections

11 December 2024 Staring at the camera, a young man sits at a desk with a computer behind him.

Beginning a PhD at warp speed

Kristaps Krims-Dāvis spent a month at EMBL Heidelberg getting a crash course in cutting-edge microscopy.

CONNECTIONS

2024

connections

9 December 2024 A group of about 20 people looking at the camera, standing on a set of stair inside a building with glass walls.

EMBL Science Day with Evonik: fostering collaborative innovations

EMBL hosted a Science Day with Evonik, bringing together 16 industry experts and EMBL scientists to explore collaborative research opportunities.

CONNECTIONS

2024

connections

8 November 2024

We are EMBL: Briony Jackson on community-focused public engagement

Public Engagement Officer Briony Jackson is building lasting relationships with local communities to make science accessible and engaging for all.

PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES

2024

people-perspectivesperspectives

15 October 2024 Visual metaphor showing the transport of vitamin B1 in the body.

Vitamin B1’s journey in your body, and why it matters

EMBL Hamburg scientists have gained molecular insights into how we absorb vitamin B1 – a mechanism with implications for disease and drug development.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2024

science-technology

8 October 2024 Illustration showing a mitochondrion covered with many ribosomes on the left, and a zoom in to the molecular structure of a ribosome facing a membrane with its smaller subunit on the right.

Illustration showing a mitochondrion covered with many ribosomes on the left, and a zoom in to the molecular structure of a ribosome facing a membrane with its smaller subunit on the right.

What we can learn from hungry yeast cells

Scientists at EMBL Heidelberg and University of Virginia revealed a new cellular response to starvation: ribosomes attach to the mitochondrial outer membrane in a very unusual way, via their small subunit. The finding made in yeast might provide insights into how cancer cells survive the harsh…

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2024

science-technology

3 July 2024

The EMBL evolution: Ewan Birney on open data and the ethos of excellence

Ewan Birney reflects on his time at EMBL and the development of the organisation through a commitment to open data and nurturing scientific talent.

PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES

2024

people-perspectivesperspectives

30 April 2024 Colourful vertical panels each show different microscopic images possible with the high-tech tools in EMBL's Imaging Centre

12 moments of philanthropy: #4 EMBL Imaging Centre

A bold vision to build a centre of excellence for imaging captured the imagination and support from private and public donors to help create the EMBL Imaging Centre.

CONNECTIONS

2024

connections

24 November 2023

Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger visits EMBL exhibition ‘The World of Molecular Biology’

Representatives from politics, research and the philanthropist community joined the Minister's visit to EMBL exhibition “The World of Molecular Biology” in Heidelberg and welcomed the dialogue between science and society initiated by the exhibition.

CONNECTIONS LAB MATTERS

2023

connectionslab-matters

14 November 2023 Blue thumbprint-sized ovals cluster together on a black background with white and pink dots sporadically situated on the blue ovals.

Blue thumbprint-sized ovals cluster together on a black background with white and pink dots sporadically situated on the blue ovals.

Five takeaways from ‘Seeing is believing’ in 2023

A recent EMBO | EMBL symposium brought together leading developers of imaging methods with cutting-edge applications that illustrate how imaging can answer biological questions.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2023

eventsscience-technology

6 October 2023

We are EMBL: Zuzana Koskova on her experience as a PhD student at EMBL Heidelberg

Zuzana Koskova is a PhD student from Slovakia who, at the age of 19, left her country to pursue her career in biological sciences in Germany. In this interview, she talks about her interests, career aspirations, and recent participation at the Info Day held in Bratislava, where she had the…

LAB MATTERS PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES

2023

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

27 September 2023 A female scientist with shoulder-length hair and black shirt listens to a male scientist in burgundy shirt and white beard, seated to the right.

A female scientist with shoulder-length hair and black shirt listens to a male scientist in burgundy shirt and white beard, seated to the right.

Five decades of EMBL visits

Structural biologist Shlomo Trachtenberg has made research trips to EMBL from Israel since the late 1970s and reflects on the boost EMBL’s technology provided his research, the ingredients for an ideal research institution, and his ongoing fascination with microscopes.

CONNECTIONS LAB MATTERS

2023

connectionslab-matters

6 July 2023 Michael Albiez (CEO, Carl Zeiss Microscopy) and Edith Heard (Director General EMBL) signing document about ZEISS-EMBL partnership

EMBL and ZEISS enter long-term strategic partnership

Through the collaborative framework agreement, EMBL and ZEISS aim to accelerate the development of imaging technology to advance life science research.

CONNECTIONS LAB MATTERS

2023

connectionslab-matters

11 May 2023 An colourful image taken from the World of Molecular Biology exhibition.

The World of Molecular Biology is open

EMBL´s new permanent exhibition ‘The World of Molecular Biology’ in Heidelberg is now open for registration. The exhibition takes the visitor on a journey of scales, from genomes to ecosystems, and introduces key imaging technologies.

EMBL ANNOUNCEMENTS LAB MATTERS

2023

embl-announcementslab-matters

3 April 2023 Two male scientists with safety glasses at EMBL Imaging Centre

Dispensing microscopy expertise

Home to some of Europe’s most cutting-edge tools in molecular biology, EMBL has long shared its expertise and access to these tools through an extensive repertoire of courses, conferences, seminars, and other training. And now included in this mix is a job shadowing programme at EMBL Imaging…

LAB MATTERS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2023

lab-mattersscience-technology

24 August 2022 A building with glass facades and courtyard in front.

Spotlight: EMBL Imaging Centre, Heidelberg

EMBL’s imaging centre makes advanced microscopy technologies accessible to the international scientific community.

LAB MATTERS

2022

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

9 August 2022 Two scientists looking through the lens of a light microscope

Visualising Life: The EMBL Lautenschläger summer school returns to Heidelberg

The EMBL Lautenschläger summer school, held 4–15 Jul 2022, introduced students from a range of scientific backgrounds to interdisciplinary life science research.

LAB MATTERS

2022

eventslab-matters

5 July 2022 A view of the EMBL Imaging Centre with fields in the background

The EMBL Imaging Centre: making it happen

Creating a cutting-edge facility for the global life science community doesn't happen overnight. We spoke to some of those who worked to turn this dream into a reality.

CONNECTIONS

2022

connectionsevents

1 July 2022 From left to right: Jens Brandenburg, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education and Research; Jan Ellenberg, Head of the EMBL Imaging Centre; Edith Heard, EMBL Director General; and Theresia Bauer, Baden-Württemberg Minister of Science, Research and the Arts unveiled the official plaque at the opening of the EMBL Imaging Centre.

From left to right: Jens Brandenburg, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education and Research; Jan Ellenberg, Head of the EMBL Imaging Centre; Edith Heard, EMBL Director General; and Theresia Bauer, Baden-Württemberg Minister of Science, Research and the Arts unveiled the official plaque at the opening of the EMBL Imaging Centre.

Official opening of the EMBL Imaging Centre

Representatives from politics, industry and academia attended the inauguration ceremony at EMBL Heidelberg

EMBL ANNOUNCEMENTS

2022

embl-announcementsevents

5 May 2022 Colourful vertical panels each show different microscopic images possible with the high-tech tools in EMBL's Imaging Centre

Enabling imaging across scales

EMBL’s first Imaging Centre Symposium will occur onsite at EMBL and include tours of the new Imaging Centre on 31 May, introducing participants to the facility and its staff and featuring talks on the rapid developments in imaging technologies that have led to notable biological and medical…

EMBL ANNOUNCEMENTS

2022

embl-announcementsevents

2 March 2022 Image composition showing a building with sun reflecting off the glass and microscopy images of microorganisms in multiple colours.

Image composition showing a building with sun reflecting off the glass and microscopy images of microorganisms in multiple colours.

‘The World of Molecular Biology’ exhibition

The new permanent ‘The World of Molecular Biology’ exhibition will open in mid-2023 at EMBL’s headquarters in Heidelberg. It will encourage people to actively engage with science and its relevance for everyday life.

EMBL ANNOUNCEMENTS LAB MATTERS

2022

embl-announcementslab-matters

24 January 2022 Three women are seen in front of a computer, with the electron micrograph of a woodlouse visible on the screens

EMBL Imaging Centre kickstarts training with workshop for undergraduates

The new EMBL Imaging Centre held its first on-site training workshop, introducing undergraduate students to the basics of volume electron microscopy. This marks the first of many opportunities to aid capacity-building in imaging techniques in Europe.

LAB MATTERS

2022

lab-matters

3 December 2021 A group of people standing outside a two-storey reseach building, featuring a glass front.

EMBL Imaging Centre launches first open call for users

The new EMBL Imaging Centre has announced its first open user call, and new project evaluation process and training opportunities.

EMBL ANNOUNCEMENTS LAB MATTERS

2021

embl-announcementslab-matters

12 November 2021 Pia Lavriha and Anna Steyer look at cryo-electron microscopic images on a computer screen.

EMBL Imaging Centre welcomes first external user

Correlative microscopy service enables PhD student from Switzerland to study structure and location of proteins cells use to communicate.

LAB MATTERS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2021

lab-mattersscience-technology

30 August 2021 Female scientist with lab coat, gloves, safety goggles, and mask holds a pipette to inject a protein sample into a machine.

Cryo-Electron Microscopy Service Platform supports research on protein transport

Giulia Zanetti from the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology (ISMB) in London explains how the collaboration with the Cryo-Electron Microscopy Service Platform enabled her group to reveal the structure of protein transport complexes.

LAB MATTERS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2021

lab-mattersscience-technology

6 July 2021 Photo of a building with blue sky in the background

New life science Imaging Centre preparing for user access

The EMBL Imaging Centre is preparing for external user access, after an on-time and on-budget build and handover to the science team.

CONNECTIONS LAB MATTERS

2021

connectionslab-matters

18 January 2021 man wearing sweater and glasses stands in front of snow and glassy building

Welcome: Timo Zimmermann

The EMBL Imaging Centre is scheduled to open in 2021 with Timo Zimmermann as Team Leader for advanced light microscopy technology development and service provision.

LAB MATTERS PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

12 January 2021 Three images showing close-ups of different EMBL facilitites.

EMBL becomes newest Instruct Centre

EMBL’s sites in Grenoble, Hamburg, and Heidelberg form the newest Instruct Centre. The new centre offers users access to a broad range of state-of-the-art facilities.

CONNECTIONS LAB MATTERS

2021

connectionslab-matters

8 December 2020 Windowed façade reflecting leafless trees.

Clear views

With the external scaffolding removed, another step in the construction of the EMBL Imaging Centre is complete. Now we get a first glimpse of the final look of this stunning building.

LAB MATTERS

2020

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

24 August 2020 Simone Mattei, the new team leader in electron microscopy service and technology development