User:Write-Ada/sandbox
Introduction
Euro-BioImaging is an European, publicly funded, not-for-profit research infrastructure that provides open access to biological and biomedical imaging technologies, services, and resources for researchers across Europe and beyond. Established in 2019 as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), Euro-BioImaging aims to support cutting-edge research and innovation in the life sciences and beyond by providing democratized access to state-of-the-art imaging facilities and expertise, training in imaging, and image data services.
Mission and Objectives
Euro-BioImaging empowers researchers with open access to innovative imaging technologies, driving cutting-edge research and addressing societal challenges. Its vision is a future where advanced imaging tools fuel unparalleled discoveries, guided by core values of excellence, ethics, inclusivity, responsiveness, and sustainability.
Euro-BioImaging's mission is to foster collaboration and innovation in biological and biomedical imaging research by:
- providing access to a comprehensive portfolio of imaging technologies and expertise,
- facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange among researchers,
- promoting best practices and standards in imaging research and data management,
- advancing the application of the FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) to enable the reuse of data,
- supporting training and education in imaging technologies and methodologies,
- contributing to advancements in healthcare, diagnostics, and therapeutics through imaging-based research,
- connecting the European Imaging community,
- providing a platform for advancing imaging technologies and developing new technological innovations.
Services and Activities
Euro-BioImaging offers access to a wide range of imaging technologies and facilities from the nano- to the tissue and organism scale, including:
- Light Microscopy: Fluorescence microscopy and nanoscopy, mesoscopic imaging, high-throughput microscopy, label-free imaging, etc.
- Electron Microscopy: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), volume Electron Microscopy (vEM), etc.
- Multimodal correlative microscopy: Correlative light Microscopy and Electron Microscopy, X-ray and Electron Microscopy, etc.
- Human imaging: MagnetoEncephaloGraphy (MEG), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), etc.
- Animal and plant imaging: micro-CT, in vivo optical imaging, etc.
- Image Analysis and Data Management: image analysis software, data repositories, etc.
- Methods for sample characterization: Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Mass-Spectrometry based Imaging, Spatial Transcriptomics, Elemental detection/chemical imaging, etc.
Researchers can apply for access to Euro-BioImaging facilities and services through a centralized online portal. Access is granted based on scientific excellence, feasibility, and potential impact of the proposed research. Euro-BioImaging also provides user support, consultation, virtual and in-person training opportunities, and resources to help researchers optimize their experiments and data analysis.
Membership and Nodes
Euro-BioImaging operates as a distributed infrastructure, with central activities coordinated by three Hub sites and services provided through imaging facilities known as 'Nodes'. With Nodes currently present in 19 countries, the services they provide can be requested by researchers worldwide through the Euro-BioImaging access portal. Nodes can consist of numerous imaging facilities spread across different sites. In total, more than 190 Imaging facilities are openly accessible through Euro-BioImaging.
| Country | Nodes |
|---|---|
| Austria | Austrian BioImaging/CMI |
| Belgium | Flanders Bioimaging Imaging Node |
| Bulgaria | Sofia BioImaging Node - Advanced Light Microscopy Node Sofia Bulgaria |
| Czech Republic | Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy Node Prague CZ |
| Advanced Light Microscopy and Medical Imaging Node Brno CZ | |
| Center for Advanced Preclinical Imaging (CAPI) | |
| Denmark | Danish BioImaging |
| EMBL | Euro-BioImaging EMBL-Node |
| Finland | Finnish Advanced Microscopy Node |
| Finnish Biomedical Imaging Node | |
| France | French BioImaging Node |
| Hungary | Cellular Imaging Hungary |
| Medical and Preclinical Imaging Hungary | |
| Israel | Israel BioImaging |
| Italy | Advanced Light Microscopy Italian Node |
| Digital Imaging Multimodal Platform Neuromed - DIMP NEUROMED | |
| Molecular Imaging Italian Node | |
| Phase Contrast Imaging Flagship Node Trieste | |
| Netherlands | Challenges Framework Flagship Node |
| Correlative Light Microscopy Dutch Flagship Node | |
| Dutch High Field Imaging Hub | |
| Erasmus MC OIC - Advanced Light Microscopy Rotterdam Node | |
| Facility of Multimodal Imaging - AMMI Maastricht | |
| High Throughput Microscopy Dutch Flagship Node | |
| Preclinical Imaging Centre (PRIME) - Molecular Imaging Dutch Node | |
| Population Imaging Flagship Node Rotterdam | |
| The Van Leeuwenhoek Center for Advanced Microscopy (LCAM) - Functional Imaging Flagship Node Amsterdam | |
| Wageningen Imaging and Spectroscopy Hub (WISH) - ALM and Molecular Imaging Node Wageningen | |
| Norway | NorMIC Oslo - Advanced Light Microscopy Node Oslo |
| NORMOLIM, Norwegian Molecular Imaging Infrastructure | |
| Poland | Advanced Light Microscopy Node |
| Portugal | Brain Imaging Network (BIN) |
| Portuguese Platform of BioImaging (PPBI) | |
| Slovenia | SiMBION NODE |
| Spain | Population Imaging Valencia |
| Sweden | Swedish National Microscopy Infrastructure |
| United Kingdom | The UK Node |
Collaboration and Partnerships
Euro-BioImaging aims to accelerate scientific discovery and innovation in the life sciences by fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange,. Euro-BioImaging partners with national imaging infrastructures, research institutions, universities, and industry partners across Europe to expand its network and enhance its services. For example, Euro-BioImaging works closely with all other European Research Infrastructure Consortia in the ERIC Forum and particularly closely with the other Life Science Research Infrastructures.
Euro-BioImaging is also a founding member of Global BioImaging, an international network of cutting-edge imaging facilities, infrastructures, and imaging communities worldwide.
Moreover, the Euro-BioImaging Industry Board (EBIB) was established in 2014 to facilitate collaboration between industry and academia, fostering communication and collaboration within the Euro-BioImaging community. As an independent entity, the EBIB aims to enhance cross-sector collaboration, facilitate communication between technology providers and users, advocate for imaging in life science research, and engage in technology development and testing alongside Euro-BioImaging Nodes. Through these efforts, the EBIB supports the advancement of imaging research and technology in Europe.
Impact and Achievements
Euro-BioImaging has been awarded a number of important Horizon Europe and other grants to provide funding for user access at Euro-BioImaging Nodes, development of Image Data Services, new technology innovation, and strengthening of the infrastructure's services.
Some example research projects supported by Euro-BioImaging include a multiscale 3D analysis of cardiovascular alterations due to COVID-19, mapping cholesterol in tissue to better understand prostate cancer, and supporting the development of nanomedicines, thus showcasing Euro-BioImaging's contribution to cutting-edge research.