What secrets lie within the walls of the Multiscale Imaging Center? This center is not just another research building. It’s a hub where scientists from various fields converge. They include biologists, physicians, chemists, physicists, and mathematicians.
The Multiscale Imaging Center fosters interdisciplinary research. It strengthens the analysis of cellular behavior. Multi-modal imaging strategies are key. Researchers collaborate in open labs. They work together under one roof.
The building itself is impressive. Construction took place from 2017 to 2019. Realization spanned 2016 to 2020. The building costs amounted to 63 million euros. With a gross floor area of 13,000 square meters, it provides ample space for cutting-edge research.
The Multiscale Imaging Center has four floors. It also has a partly sub-basement. Here you find biological, chemical, and physical laboratories. They adhere to safety steps S1 and S2. The center also houses animal areas. Mice, rats, fish, and flies reside here under S2 safety protocols.
But what’s with the name of the Multiscale Imaging Center? Imaging is central to the research here. Scientists systematically analyze cellular processes in organisms. They employ a variety of imaging technologies.
High-resolution microscopic methods enlarge minute structures. They permit detailed examination of individual cells. Scientists can only analyze a spatial snapshot of the organism this way. Whole-body imaging methods like positron emission tomography or magnetic resonance imaging have lower resolution than microscopes. However, they depict the entire organism. This includes its tissues and organs.
The scientists integrate different imaging technologies. They examine cellular behavior in various spatial dimensions over time. The goal is to integrate information from the individual cell to the entire organism. This holistic view identifies links between cellular mechanisms and organ function. This specific methodology is multiscale imaging.
Multiscale imaging requires innovative strategies. Cells are labelled with different signal transmitters. These may be fluorescent, magnetic, or radioactive molecules. These molecules generate signals that become visible. Different imaging technologies are used to view them. Evaluating image data poses new challenges. Data sets from different imaging methods are combined. This helps recognize complex patterns in cell behavior. Mathematical models and artificial intelligence play a vital role. This is also known as deep learning.
The European Institute for Molecular Imaging is located in the Multiscale Imaging Center. The EIMI is a central scientific institution at the University of Münster. It was established in 2007. The EIMI’s director is Professor Michael Schäfers. He is the spokesperson for the Multiscale Imaging Center.
As we conclude our visit to the Multiscale Imaging Center, remember this. It’s not just a building. It is a place of innovation. Here, researchers push the boundaries of scientific knowledge. They strive to understand the intricacies of life itself.