About the NUS Centre for Bioimaging Sciences

The science and application of biological imaging

Founded by faculty from Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Physics, the Centre for BioImaging Sciences’ (CBIS) research is focused on the science and application of biological imaging by light and electron microscopy and the development of computational and microscopy-based methods and technologies.

With an interdisciplinary emphasis on the mechanism of biological processes at the molecular, cell, and tissue levels, CBIS complements the development of advanced light microscopy technologies in Singapore.

Directors Message

— Thorsten Wohland, Director, Centre for BioImaging Sciences

Since the inception of the optical microscope in the late 16th century, science made huge strides because of the capability of obtaining images of objects beyond what is visible with the human eye. These images provided insights into the world of cells and microbes and kickstarted the development of modern biology. With the advancement of technology, many more microscopy techniques were added to our repertoire, including electron microscopy and scanning probe microscopy.

At the NUS Centre for Bioimaging Sciences we support and develop microscopy and imaging techniques including but not limited to light, electron, and scanning probe microscopies with the aim to advance our knowledge of biology down to the molecular level. We push the resolution in space and time to obtain atomic structures and measure dynamics at the single molecule level. It is the combination of spatial and temporal resolution that provides the fullest picture of biological systems. To support these development and be able to deal with the large amounts of data provided by thousands of images containing millions of pixels at high spatial and/or temporal resolution, we maintain a strong IT infrastructure that allows us to store the vast amount of data collected on our microscopes and evaluate them with CPU and GPU clusters supported by development of algorithms for their interpretation.

CBIS’ light and electron microscopy and IT facilities are open to all users, are part of the SingaScope national microscopy facility, that provides its users access to over a hundred high-end microscopes within Singapore, and contains state-of-the-art research facilities. We provide consultation services and educational courses and workshops for students and users and welcome new collaborations with academia and industry. We invite you to visit CBIS and discuss and work with us to advance bioimaging and with it our understanding of the physical and biological world.