Detailseite
Projekt
Minflux-Jena – advancing single-molecule detection in cell-biological research
Fachliche Zuordnung
Optik, Quantenoptik und Physik der Atome, Moleküle und Plasmen
Förderung
Förderung von 2019 bis 2024
Projektkennung
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 413999711
The advent of optical super-resolution microscopy has revolutionised life sciences and medical research in the last decade. However, applications have shown the need for further improvements in spatial and temporal resolution. A remedy is the recently introduced MINFLUX microscope, which represents a paradigm shift in super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and enables imaging and tracking with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. Specifically, the MINFLUX microscope so far allows to track the diffusion, interaction and conformational dynamics of molecules with very high spatial (< 5 nm) and temporal (< 200 s) resolution. Currently, this technology is only present in the developer’s laboratory. In order to fully exploit the potential of MINFLUX and maximize its use in break-through life science research, we here ask for funding to establish a MINFLUX microscope in Jena. The Jena research campus incorporates laboratories and imaging facilities that are experienced in optimizing the use of advanced microscope instrumentation in life science research. With scientists and facilities around that have just the right expertise in optics, advanced microscopy development and cell-biology and biomedicine, and that are closely connected through existing initiatives, Jena will be the perfect environment to challenge the applicability of the MINFLUX technology (potentially shedding new light on long-standing, fundamental cell-biological questions), as well as to in collaboration with the supplier and other partners further optimize and foster it. We plan to set up the microscope in Jena and i) test its applicability in various selected biological assays (ranging from analytics to basic and translational biomedical research, neurobiology to immunology, and plasma membrane or organelle studies, such as nanometric membrane organization); ii) further optimize the technology through improving optical design, data acquisition, analysis protocols, and fluorescent labels; and iii) to make it accessible to a wide range of less-experienced users by integrating the instrument into a fully serviced open-user image facility. In addition, we also propose coverage of further costing to organize meetings between MINFLUX developers and users for an efficient scientific exchange on the potentials and remaining issues of the MINFLUX technology. These consolidated efforts will ensure that applications and user needs are at the core of the design of hardware and software as well as driving the choices of the technology’s adoption and distribution, and that Germany’s microscope community will be at the forefront of international research to exploit this novel technology.
DFG-Verfahren
Großgeräteinitiative
Großgeräte
Minflux Microscope
Gerätegruppe
5090 Spezialmikroskope
Antragstellende Institution
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
