Team:Cambridge-JIC

CAMBRIDGE-JIC

Abstract

Fluorescence microscopy has become a ubiquitous part of biological research, but hardware can often be prohibitively expensive. This is particularly true for labs with small budgets, including those in developing countries. We aim to provide a well documented, easily modifiable and high quality fluorescence microscope to address this problem. The motivation for the project comes from our own experience: that is, to make the best education and facilities accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial status.

The mechanics of the microscope will be 3D printable, and all other parts will be cheap and accessible. These introduce a novel method (developed by Dr Richard Bowman, Cambridge) for precise positioning and control which exploits the flexibility of the printed parts. The microscope will also utilize the developed-in-Cambridge Raspberry Pi board and camera module for image capture. Ultimately we’re aiming for <10 micron resolution, both in brightfield and fluorescence modes. We are also developing software to allow user-friendly control and image processing that will make the microscope highly modifiable and re-programmable.