Expansion Microscopy User Group

recorded talk by Virginie Hamel “Unveiling the molecular architecture of the cell using expansion microscopy”

Please visit: https://mocel.unige.ch/research-groups/guichard-hamel/overview for further information on Virginie Hamel!

Virginie Hamel (previously Hachet) is an expert in Cell Biology and Biochemistry. She completed her PhD under the supervision of Iain Mattaj at EMBL (Heidelberg, Germany, 2004) working on the role of importin alpha in nuclear envelope re-assembly in vitro using Xenopus laevis egg extracts. From 2005 to 2015, she worked as a post-doctoral fellow and then scientist collaborator in the laboratory of Prof. Gönczy at EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland) where she first studied timing of mitotic entry in C. elegans embryos followed by dissecting the mechanisms of centriole assembly both in vitro and in vivo. Since 2015, she is co-heading the Centriole architecture lab with Prof Paul Guichard in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Department at the University of Geneva. Their lab focuses on deciphering the structural mechanisms governing centriole assembly combining the use of cell biology methods, in vitro reconstitution assays, cryo-microscopy/cryo-tomography and expansion microscopy. They have notably jointly received the prestigious Cloëtta Prize (2025), highlighting their groundbreaking contributions to centriole biology and Ultrastructure Expansion Microscopy (U-ExM).

Expansion Microscopy in Practice Series: Choosing the Right Protocol

We would like to explore the format and outputs of the user group as a community. In light of this, we are pleased to announce the launch of a new community discussion series organized by the Expansion Microscopy User Group. This series is designed to provide an open, interactive platform for researchers to exchange experiences, discuss methodological considerations, and reflect on best practices in expansion microscopy.

This session is intended to support both new and experienced users of expansion microscopy and to foster cross-laboratory learning within the community.

To help ensure that the discussion is as relevant and informative as possible for participants, we kindly ask that you complete a short form in advance of the meeting. The form contains two questions:

The sample type(s) you are currently using or plan to use for expansion microscopy.

The expansion microscopy protocol(s) you are currently using or plan to use.

Your responses will be used in aggregate to help guide and structure the discussion during the session. We strongly encourage participation, as this information will allow us to better reflect the diversity of experimental contexts and methodological approaches within the community.
Link to the form: https://forms.gle/si6y7rjhXWAq13Rx9