Oxford Particle Imaging Centre specialises in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM)
The Oxford Particle Imaging Centre (OPIC) is part of the Division of Structural Biology within the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford. OPIC facilities are located in the Centre for Human Genetics on the Old Road Campus.
OPIC houses state-of-the-art equipment for cryo-EM single particles analysis, in-situ FIB-milling and cryo-ET of biological specimens, from small macromolecular complexes to cells. Our facilities are available to all researchers from across the University of Oxford as well as external users from both academia and industry.
Our facility includes a series of plunging devices (Vitrobots, GP2 Leica plunger), grids micro-patterning (Primo, Alveole) for preparing and optimizing grids to image both purified macromolecular complexes or cells. A 200-kV Glacios (Thermo Fisher Scientific) cryo-TEM equipped with a Falcon III direct electron detector for sample screening, grid optimizations and initial data collection. A 300-kV Titan Krios G3i (Thermo Fisher Scientific) cryo-TEM equipped with Falcon 4i direct electron detector and a Selectris-X imaging filter for high resolution single particles and tomography data collection. A Thermo Scientific Arctis Cryo-Plasma Focused Ion Beam (cryo-PFIB) for high-throughput production of cryo-lamellae from vitrified cells. In addition, its integrated fluorescent module (iFLM) enables fluorescence imaging at the electron/ion beam coincidence point. Fluorescence imaging for targeting, intermediate verification, and final target confirmation can easily be done before, in-between, and after the ion milling without moving the stage. Its Autoloader system provides a unique, direct connection between cryo-FIB-SEM sample preparation and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The platform also host an Aquilos 2, which is a dual beam system equipped with integrated fluorescent module (iFLM) and an easy-lift needle for lift-out approaches, allowing the preparation of thin, electron-transparent cellular lamellas of both cells and thicker samples like organoids and tissues for high-resolution cryo-electron tomography.
Equipment provided in OPIC are located within biosafety containment laboratories at ACDP category 3 and DEFRA 4 levels of containment enabling cryo-EM studies of approved, unfixed infectious pathogens relevant to human and animal health. Projects involving infectious material require prior discussion with OPIC to assess feasibility and containment requirements; please contact us before submitting an access request.
OPIC welcomes research proposals from a broad science base - please enquire at emsupport@strubi.ox.ac.uk if you are interested in containment imaging.
Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive
OX3 7BN, Oxford
United Kingdom
OPIC is currently available for in person or remote access visit as well as instruct internship. For information on the availability of specific technologies, view the Technology Availability List or contact emsupport@strubi.ox.ac.uk to engage directly with the team.
How to find us
Oxford Particle Imaging Centre (OPIC) is part of the Division of Structural Biology within the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford. OPIC facilities are located in the Centre for Human Genetics on Old Road Campus.
For more information on travel to the institute click here.
The Oxford Particle Imaging Centre (OPIC) provides state-of-the-art cryogenic electron microscopy for single-particle analysis, cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), cryo-correlative light and electron microscopy (cryo-CLEM), and in situ structural biology. Our workflows support specimens ranging from purified macromolecular complexes and viruses to intact cells, organoids and tissues. OPIC is available to researchers across the University of Oxford and to external academic and industrial users.
OPIC provides comprehensive infrastructure for cryo-EM sample preparation and optimisation, including Vitrobot and Leica GP2 plunge-freezing devices, high-pressure freezing, and PRIMO (Alvéole) micropatterning for controlling cell growth and positioning on EM grids.
For cryo-EM screening and data collection, OPIC houses a 200 kV Thermo Fisher Scientific Glacios cryo-TEM for sample screening, grid optimisation and initial data collection, and a 300 kV Titan Krios G3i cryo-TEM, equipped with a Falcon 4i direct electron detector and Selectris-X energy filter, for high-resolution single-particle and cryo-ET data acquisition.
For in situ structural biology, OPIC operates two complementary cryogenic FIB-SEM platforms. The Thermo Fisher Scientific Arctis Cryo-Plasma FIB enables automated, high-throughput preparation of cryo-lamellae from vitrified cells. Its integrated fluorescence light microscope (iFLM) supports fluorescence-guided target selection and verification during milling, while Autoloader-based sample handling enables streamlined transfer between cryo-FIB preparation and cryo-TEM data collection. The Thermo Fisher Scientific Aquilos 2 FIB-SEM, also equipped with integrated fluorescence imaging, supports conventional cellular lamella preparation as well as cryogenic lift-out, extending in situ cryo-ET to thicker and more complex specimens, including organoids and tissues.
Together, these technologies provide integrated workflows from sample preparation and fluorescence-guided targeting through cryo-FIB milling to high-resolution cryo-ET, alongside conventional single-particle cryo-EM workflows from initial grid optimisation to high-resolution data collection.
A distinctive capability of OPIC is that its instrumentation is embedded within ACDP Category 3 and DEFRA Category 4 containment laboratories, enabling cryo-EM studies of approved infectious pathogens relevant to human and animal health. OPIC therefore brings together single-particle cryo-EM, cellular cryo-ET, cryo-CLEM and high-containment structural biology within a single facility.
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