Fluorescence Imaging Core
The goal of the Fluorescence Imaging Core (FIC), located in the Medical Sciences building, is to accommodate any biological research that requires wide-field, confocal, 2 Photon and TIRF fluorescent microscopy. Our mission is to support research endeavors by advising and optimizing the acquisition, analysis, and presentation of imaging data.
FIC Heading link
The microscope systems currently in service include:
- Zeiss Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSM) 710 META
- Zeiss Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSM) 710 BiG
- Zeiss Laser TIRF (Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence) Microscope
- Zeiss Spinning Disk Confocal Microscope
- Zeiss Widefield Microscope
- Zeiss Ratiometric Calcium Microscope
- Prairie Technologies Ultima In Vivo Multiphoton Microsopy System
- Olympus VivaView Incubator/Fluorescence Microscope
- Olympus BX51 Fluorescence Microscope (Upright)
- Olympus IX70 Fluorescence Microscope (Inverted)
- Image Analysis Workstation (Imaris/MetaMorph/Volocity/MatLab/Fiji)
More detailed descriptions of all available equipment can be found in the instruments page. Such instruments can be individually reserved, and each comes with its own set of associated usage fees (scroll down in the instruments page to see the fees). Certain microscopes can also be outfitted with temperature-controlled stage inserts for live cell observation. In addition, multiple workstations dedicated to digital image manipulation and analysis are always on standby in the facility.
If you are new to the facility and would like to begin training on one of the instruments, feel free to sign up for an initial 2 hour session through rrc-imaging@uic.edu. Please indicate the instrument in the email along with your availability.
Normal business hours for the Fluorescence Imaging Core (FIC) are from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday thru Friday, though extended access can be provided with adequate training.