BINA Builder’s Workshop Series

Join us on May 21st 10:30 am CT – more info coming soon!

Event Title: Open Hardware in Microscopy Research

Speakers: Kevin Dean (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center), Gail McConnell (University of Strathclyde), Alfred Millett-Sikking (Calico Life Sciences LLC), Shalin Mehta (Biohub)

Event Abstract: This event gathers microscopy open-hardware and software pioneers to discuss the shift from proprietary systems to community-driven innovation. Our speakers will share how their innovative microscopy builds and analysis pipelines can be tailored to answer specific biological questions that traditional microscopes cannot. This program will be a Zoom panel discussion featuring four 15-minutes panel presentation, with a 30-minutes Q&A session.

Talk Title: From Altair-LSFM to Altair-dvOPM: Building a Modular Open-Hardware Ecosystem for Smart Light-Sheet Microscopy

Speaker: Kevin Dean (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

Talk Abstract: Open hardware in microscopy is most useful when it becomes an extensible ecosystem rather than a single instrument. In this talk, I will describe how we are building that ecosystem around Altair and navigate. Altair-LSFM established the foundation: a high-resolution, open-source light-sheet microscope that combines simulation-guided optical design, precision-machined baseplates, and open software control to deliver ~235 nm lateral and ~350 nm axial resolution over a 266 µm field of view after deconvolution, while reducing alignment complexity for nonspecialist labs. We are now extending this framework into a second-generation Altair-ASLM/CT-ASLM platform that shares a common optical backbone with SPIM, adds remote focusing to sweep the light-sheet waist across the camera field, and uses multiwavelength optimization to support both standard aqueous imaging and cleared-tissue configurations.  In parallel, Altair-dvOPM translates the same design philosophy to mesoscopic oblique-plane imaging by using a direct-view photographic-lens relay and modular illumination/detection baseplates; the current prototype provides a ~5.4 mm field of view with measured resolutions of 2.55, 3.36, and 17.75 µm in X, Y, and Z, and supports imaging of expanded cells, cleared brains, and expanded livers. Across these instruments, navigate provides the unifying open-source software layer, with reusable smart-acquisition routines, hardware abstraction, plugin and REST extensibility, and standardized high-dimensional data handling across LSFM, ASLM, and OPM. Together, these efforts frame open hardware not as a single build, but as a reproducible and modifiable pathway from subcellular live-cell imaging to mesoscale imaging of expanded and cleared tissues.

Talk Title: New approaches to classical optics for multi-scale bioimaging

Speaker: Gail McConnell (University of Strathclyde)

Talk Abstract: Imaging across length scales remains a central challenge in optical science: high numerical aperture systems offer fine resolution but only within a limited field of view. This talk focuses on recent advances that address this tension using classical optics, with particular emphasis on the Mesolens and the emergence of 3D-printed optical components.

The Mesolens provides a unique optical regime, combining high numerical aperture with a multi-millimeter-scale field of view, enabling simultaneous visualization of sub-cellular detail and large-scale biological structure. I will discuss the optical design principles that underpin mesoscopic imaging with the Mesolens, and I will demonstrate with recent examples of how our approach is enabling volumetric, high-resolution imaging of complex biological and biomedical samples.

I will also discuss how additive manufacturing is reshaping optical system design. Advances in high-resolution 3D printing now allow rapid fabrication of custom lenses, hardware, and indeed whole optical microscopes that would be difficult or prohibitively expensive to produce using conventional techniques. I will give an overview of our latest work in 3D printing of optics and hardware for light microscopy, from both simple and bespoke prints to improve the resolution and contrast of existing microscopes to the printing of entire diffraction-limited and super-resolution mesoscale imaging systems.

Talk Title: Snouty light-sheet microscopy

Speaker: Alfred Millett-Sikking (Calico Life Sciences LLC)

Talk Abstract: Snouty light-sheet microscopy is a fast, high resolution and versatile light-sheet microscopy technique that is compatible with standard microscope platforms and sample formats. Here we give an overview of how it works, some attractive upgrade options, and why it’s a compelling microscope to build and use.

Speaker Bio’s: Read about the Speakers here!

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Read about the Speakers here!