Automated Live-Cell-Imaging System

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 546750628

Organoids are three-dimensional cell complexes that do not only have the capacity to self-organize, but to recreate structural and functional characteristics of tissue units in vitro. In recent years, the Institute of Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology has been able to carry out important pioneering work in organoid research and position itself in the front of international organoid research. In order to be able to analyze organoids with state-of-the-art technologies and to further expand this 3R-relevant methodology at Ulm University, the in this proposal requested live cell imaging system is required. It will (i) allow a high degree of parallelization for highly efficient analysis of organoid cultures, (ii) enable a comprehensive and dynamic picture of structural and pathogenic changes through continuous rather than static analysis, and (iii) better depict in combination with specific reporter and fluorescence assays, physiological and pathological processes.The preferred device was comprehensively tested in a three-week demo. We did not only confirm the feasibility of different cultural conditions and research questions but could also validate the device requirements for rooms and data management. Here, we particularly want to emphasize the intuitive operation of the requested device and the possibility of parallelization in pre-optimized applications. Both brightfield and fluorescence images can be recorded in a highly standardized manner using sophisticated autofocus for 2D and 3D structures. As the device is placed in a regular cell culture incubator, the system is stable and allows imaging of long-term cultures. The advanced software for autofocusing of organoid cultures also allows the quantification of parameters such as organoid number, size and shape. In addition to a better understanding of the temporal sequences of physiological and pathological processes, live cell imaging offers a high level of standardized, comprehensive analysis.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Automatisiertes Lebendzell-Imaging System
• Instrumentation Group: 5042 Mikroskope für Hochdurchsatz und Screening
• Applicant Institution: Universität Ulm
• Leader: Professor Dr. Alexander Kleger