The Electron Microscopy Facility (EMF) is a research platform focused on biological sample processing and imaging for electron microscopy.
The facility provides:
Moreover, our platform works in an open and collaborative way with other facilities enabling the implementation of multidisciplinary projects that boosts the scientific knowledge that could be extracted from a single sample, e.g. Correlative Light-Electron Microscopy (CLEM) methodologies with the collaboration of Light Microscopy and Histopathology platforms. The Electron Microscopy facility also works with other society partners promoting access to basic and advanced electron microscopy techniques to all and for all.
Facility Location: GIMM – Oeiras Campus, Main Building – Marco Polo Wing
Contact: +351 214 464 676 | emfacility@igc.gulbenkian.pt
To start a project at the Electron Microscopy Facility, send an email to the facility general email:
emfacility@igc.gulbenkian.pt with the information below.
membrane, ribosomes, Golgi complex)
electron microscopy methods about the sample of interest or similarA project meeting will be booked to discuss the experimental plan and project’s feasibility
regarding time, costs and equipment availability.
Attention that:
be charged for consumables, equipment usage, training and technical assistance. A
price list is available upon request and a quote with an estimation of cost will be given
after the experimental set-up has been agreed.
users. However, priority if given to users from the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular
Medicine (GIMM).
embedding using chemical preservation methods.
embedding using chemical preservation methods with the help of microwave radiation
for improved chemical penetration into samples and reduced protocol duration.
infiltration and embedding using cryo preservation methods.
viruses, proteins).
tissue capable of binding to an antibody. The detection is made with particles visible
under the electron beam (e.g. gold or silver particles).
Cryo Conditions.
several techniques (e.g. single images, montages, tomography).
scanning electron microscopy and imaging in collaboration with the International
Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL).
acquisitions in collaboration with the Bioimaging facility at GIMM.
the correlation of the same structure in the same sample by light and electronmicroscopy in collaboration with the Bioimaging and the Histopathology facility at
GIMM.
All electron microscopy equipment is located at GIMM – Oeiras Campus.
Equipment is available for booking 7 days in advance via online booking system (Agendo) for trained researchers during facility operation hours (Monday to Friday – from 09:30 to 17:30). An extended period of usage may be possible with at least 72 hours’ notice to facility staff.
Training in each system is mandatory for independent usage, even for researchers with previous experience. Cancellations or modifications to bookings are allowed 24 hours before the reserved booking time. Users that do not show will be charged fully for their booking time.
Each piece of equipment has a logbook that must be used to record the start and end time for each instrument session. Any problems encountered during usage should be documented in the logbook and informed to the facility staff.
All the work developed at GIMM Electron Microscopy Facility must be acknowledged in
publications and formal presentations.
A suggested template example for acknowledgements is:
“We acknowledge <insert team member name> from the Electron Microscopy Facility at
the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine for <insert how we helped you e.g.
technical expertise, sample processing, and/or imaging>. ”
A suggested template example for material and methods is:
“The <insert the techniques performed at GIMM-EMF> were performed at the Electron
Microscopy Facility at the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine”
If facility staff have done extensive work in sample preparation and/or data analysis and have substantially contributed to the project success via significant experimental design, authorship should be considered and discussed on a case-by-case basis.