Covid Policy

Masks must be worn at all times in all the rooms with no exception.

Microscopes in the Bioimaging Facility can be reserved using iLab calendars.  All facility users are invited to use the system, which requires a one-time registration.

To register for an iLab account:

1. Go to our facility's iLab site: ILabs
https://brown.ilab.agilent.com/service_center/show_external/5278/bioimaging_facility
2. In the upper-right-hand corner of the screen click ‘Sign In,’ and select to sign in using Brown University credentials 
3. You will be directed to an authentication page where you will enter your Brown University credentials
4. Once you have entered your credentials, click the ‘Login’ button
5. You will be directed to an iLab Registration page where you will select your PI/Lab and verify your contact information. 
6. Once your registration has been submitted, your PI will receive a notification that you have requested membership to their lab in iLab.  They will need to approve your membership.
7. Your training status needs to be updated.  This is done on a rolling basis by Eric Olson (Eric_Olson@brown.edu) and Sandra Van Wagoner (sandra_van_wagoner@brown.edu).   Alternatively, you can email Geoffrey_Williams@brown.edu or Robbert_Creton@brown.edu asking for an update of the training status in iLab, listing the microscopes that you have been trained on in the Bioimaging Facility. 

To Create an Equipment Reservation:

When registration is completed (including step 6-7), you can schedule equipment using the iLab calendars.
1. Navigate to the core page: ILabs Bioimaging
    https://brown.ilab.agilent.com/service_center/show_external/5278/bioimaging_facility 
2. In the upper-right-hand corner of the screen click ‘Sign In,’ and select to sign in using Brown University credentials
3. You will be directed to an authentication page where you will enter your Brown University credentials
4. Once you have entered your credentials, click the ‘Login’ button
5. Select the Schedule Equipment tab and click on the ‘View Schedule’ button next to the instrument of interest. Click and drag on the time frame you would like to schedule your reservation for.
6. A window will pop up that will allow you to verify your reservations details and provide payment information before saving the reservation.

When it is time to use the microscope

1.  Open iLab and select 'Go to Kiosk'
2.  Start end End microscope session (Start is needed to run the microscope) 

Additional help

More detailed instructions can be found on the Help Site by clicking on the “HELP” link in the upper right hand corner. For any questions not addressed in the Help site, click on the “HELP” link in the upper right hand corner and submit a ticket, or email ilab-support@agilent.com.

The Leduc Biomaging Facility, open to all investigators, provides equipment and training dedicated to high-resolution imaging in the life sciences. The facility is located in Sidney Frank Hall for Life Sciences, the BioMed Center, and the Laboratories for Molecular Medicine. The facility is supported by a PhD-level director, MS-level manager, and a BS-level research assistant. Instrumentation includes a Thermo Scientific Apreo VS SEM for serial block-face imaging, a Thermo Scientific Tundra Cryo-TEM, an FV1000 Olympus multiphoton laser scanning microscope, an Olympus FV3000 confocal imaging microscope, Zeiss LSM880, LSM800, and LSM710 confocal laser scanning microscopes, two Nikon Ti2-E high-content analysis fluorescence microscopes, a Zeiss Axiovert 200M fluorescence microscope, a Zeiss Lumar fluorescence stereomicroscope, two Olympus / Evident VS200 Slide Scanners, and an Opera Phenix spinning disc high-content screening system. The facility also maintains equipment for sample preparation, including a Pelco BioWave Pro microwave for rapid sample processing, a critical point dryer, sputter coater, a Vitrobot IV, and a Leica EM UC7 microtome for ultrathin sectioning.

What are rigor and reproducibility?

Scientific reproducibility is enhanced through scientific rigor and transparency.  Scientific rigor is the strict application of the scientific method to ensure unbiased and well-controlled experimental design, methodology, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of results. The Bioimaging Core is committed to supporting research excellence by adopting the following practices of scientific rigor.

• Purchase and maintain a variety of high-quality instruments from established vendors such that the best instrument is available for any given research analysis.
• The equipment is overseen by highly trained microscopy experts and well maintained under service contracts or funds budgeted for annual preventive maintenance and repairs.
• The microscopy experts are available for experimental design consults or troubleshooting.
• All microscope users are thoroughly trained by the expert staff, one on one,  and not granted access to the instruments until they are deemed to be suitably trained.
• All newly trained users are also required to use the microscopes during daytime hours to increase interaction with the expert staff members.

NIH Rigor and Reproducibility