From surface to cell, a new approach to studying interactions at interfaces

​Capabilities of the CRAM

Members from the Respiratory Technology and Cellular Biology Groups at the WIMR (Traini, Young & Oliver) have been successful in securing $200,000 towards a Coupled Confocal-Raman-Atomic Force Microscope (CRAM). This advanced microscope will be capable of simultaneously collecting 3-dimensional - structural, mechanical and chemical images of biological and material samples. The microscope will be housed in the newly constructed Advanced Imaging Hub at the Woolcock Institute.

The CRAM will provide researchers with the following key advantages: (1) No sample preparation or labelling techniques (especially useful in cell biology); (2) Nondestructive imaging of chemical properties throughout a sample at very high acquisition rates; (3) full Raman maps within minutes at a resolution of 200 nm; (4) The inclusion of confocal imaging allowing simultaneous 3-Dimensional structural and chemical information; (5) nanometer resolution atomic force microscopy for probing surface topography and physical sample properties (for example material hardness or drug receptor binding).

The Chief Investigators are: Daniela Traini, Paul Young, Michael Murray, Fariba Dehghani, Kim Chan, Brian Oliver and Jeff Holst. This Major equipment infrastructure will support a range of high impact ARC and NHMRC grants across the University and WMIR.