Posted by
Ian Dobbie on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Janelia-conference-for-imaging-cores-some-pointers-tp7587488p7587513.html
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Hi everyone
In the UK we run and annual light microscopy facility managers meeting which is tremendously useful networking opportunity. It is however explicitly limited to UK based imaging facilities. Meeting people in person is a very different experience from online interaction.
Ian
Sent from my iPhone
On 1 Nov 2017, at 18:00, Kate Luby-Phelps <
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I had not really thought much about networking with other core facilities until I saw the announcement of the conference. For me, the confocal listserv essentially fills this niche as we get to pick each others’ brains. However, in thinking about it more, it seems to me there are several ways in which a formal networking effort might be helpful: 1) Since all cores large and small will share some of the same challenges, perhaps identification of these areas and formation of focused subnetworks or topical working groups could be useful. For example, I have made some stabs at solving the need for deconvolution of large volumes from slide scanners and tiled confocal z stacks but have not had the time or the resources to pursue this to an endpoint. If others are in the same boat, perhaps we each have different pieces of the puzzle and sharing them could speed up the process of eliminating what doesn’t work or at least defining what the roadblocks are and then having group members take on well-defined, manageable tasks to try to move things forward for everyone. As already mentioned, another example of a challenge we all face is finding money to replace aging instrumentation and to acquire cutting edge technology. Here a network for mentoring people who want to apply for S10 grants could be helpful. A third possibility is a network that could serve as a consortium for sharing of resources. For software, this is not too difficult, as witnessed by the success of ImageJ/FiJi and CellProfiler. Would it be possible to facilitate access to instrumentation as well? For example, if I have an occasional need for STED but do not own one and do not have a large enough user group to apply for an S10, can I locate a facility that has it and somehow arrange to have my sample viewed? I realize this idea raises all kinds of logistical issues, including recharge costs, travel costs, shipping of samples, etc., but perhaps its feasibility is worth discussing.
A conference that attempts to promote and formalize these types of interactions would be worth attending.
Kate Luby-Phelps
Director, Live Cell Imaging Facility and Electron Microscopy Core Facility
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, TX