Research

By providing a broad range of advanced imaging technologies encompassing and linking light and electron microscopy, the Facility supports many research areas, including:

• Cancer
• Cardiovascular Science
• Cell Biology
• Infection and Immunity
• Nanoscience
• Neuroscience
• Regenerative Medicine
• Synthetic Biology

Our users

Our user base currently encompasses over 350 researchers from a wide range of disciplines in the biomedical and physical sciences across the University. The impact and scope of the Wolfson Bioimaging Facility is seen in over 1250 research publications that include data acquired on our microscopes.

We advise and train researchers at all levels of their careers to optimise the use of our microscope systems and to process and analyse the data they generate.

Recent publication highlights

• Identification of a RAB32-LRMDA-Commander membrane trafficking complex reveals the molecular mechanism of human oculocutaneous albinism type 7. Nature Communications 16: 8794 (2025)
• A longevity-associated variant of the human BPIFB4 gene prevents diastolic dysfunction in progeria mice. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 10:314 (2025)
• Construction of complex bacteriogenic protocells from living material assembly. Nature Protocols 20:2586-2617 (2025)
• Molecular basis for the activation of outer dynein arms in cilia. Nat Struct Mol Biol. doi: 10.1038/s41594-025-01680-9. (2025)
• The glomerular endothelial glycocalyx as a therapeutic target in proteinuric kidney disease. Nat Rev Nephrol. doi: 10.1038/s41581-025-01028-y. (2025)
• An extended network for regulation of heme homeostasis in cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 122:e2508237122. (2025)
• Melanocortin system activates carotid body arterial chemoreceptors in hypertension Circulation Research 137:967-982 (2025)
• Mapping of endosomal proximity proteomes reveals Retromer as a hub for RAB GTPase regulation. Nat Commun. Jul 30;16(1):6990 (2025)
• Mutualisms within light microhabitats are associated with sensory convergence in a mimetic butterfly community. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 122:e2422397122. (2025)
• Molecular interactions between bacterial lipids and Gemini surfactants: Insights from co-assembly of lipopolysaccharides with octenidine. J Colloid Interface Sci. 695:137740. (2025)
• Characterization of the ocular inflammatory response to AAV reveals divergence by sex and age. Molecular Therapy S1525-0016(25)00032-2 (2025)
• 3D Bioprinted Engineered Living Microreactors for Continuous Organophosphorus Compound Degradation. Small Sci. 5:2500226 (2025).
• A highly conserved ABCG transporter mediates root-soil cohesion in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol. doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiaf193. (2025)
• Cytomimetic calcification in chemically self-regulated prototissues. Nature Communications 16:4138 (2025)
• Ritscher-Schinzel syndrome can be characterized as an endosomal recyclinopathy. Sci Transl Med. 17:eadt2426. (2025)