We along with Newcastle University and Northumbria University have been awarded a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) ALERT grant to acquire a powerful new cryo-electron microscope (cryoEM).
This microscope uses extremely cold temperatures to take incredibly detailed pictures of tiny biological molecules and structures.
CyroEM laboratory
As part of this collaborative project, we will build a dedicated lab just for sample preparation and cryo-freezing to allow seamless operation with the Northern Eye facility.
This includes freezing the samples at extreme low temperatures to keep them in their natural state. Our scientists will use a machine called a Vitrobot to automatically freeze the samples.
Once the samples are frozen, they will be safely transported from Durham to the main microscope facility at Newcastle University where the cryo-electron microscope is located.
CryoEM has transformed structural biology by enabling scientists to see the detailed structure of biological molecules in their natural state at very high resolution.
Being able to see biological molecules and structures in such detail will help researchers in many different areas across the departments of Biosciences and Chemistry.
Our projects range from the development of new sustainable products from waste materials the design of new biological materials by combining chemistry and biology to the development of new therapies for diseases ranging from cancer to neglected tropical diseases.
Collaborative effort for long-term sustainability
The three universities will work together to manage and operate the microscope facility efficiently. They will have groups for day-to-day operations, long-term planning, and getting input from researchers who will use the facility.
The microscope will be located at Newcastle University and complement existing strengths in X-ray crystallography and computational structural biology.
The new cryo-electron microscope will provide valuable imaging capabilities to scientists across the Northeast region of England. It promises to lead to many new biological discoveries and innovations.
