Symposium "From 3D Light to 3D Electron Microscopy“

Correlative microscopy is a powerful approach that bridges multiple imaging modalities to provide comprehensive insights into biological and material samples. While high-end instrumentation can enhance these workflows, impactful correlative microscopy does not always require the latest or most expensive tools. This session, Correlative Microscopy – Back to Basics, highlights the ingenuity and resourcefulness of researchers who have developed robust correlative methods using accessible, often standard equipment. By showcasing practical solutions and creative adaptations, we aim to empower institutes with limited resources to engage meaningfully in correlative imaging.​

​We especially welcome contributions from students and technical staff who have played a key role in establishing these workflows. Their hands-on experience and problem-solving approaches are invaluable to the broader microscopy community. Presenters will share their methods, challenges, and outcomes, fostering an open dialogue on how to maximize the potential of existing tools.​

​Join us to explore how simplicity can drive innovation, and how collaboration across disciplines and roles can elevate microscopy practices. Whether you're just starting out or refining established techniques, this session offers a platform to learn, share, and connect.  

The last few years have seen an exponential rise in the structure of macromolecules solved by cryo-EM, with continuing developments in both EM hardware and software enabling this growth. With this increase in knowledge comes the next generation of questions revolving around the location, interaction and function of these molecules in situ. To find the answers to these questions we must visualise the structures within the cellular environment at comparable resolution, so called in situ structural biology (ISSB). However, the progression from imaging a relatively ordered, homogenous system to pinpointing relevant detail within the chaos of the cellular environment is not smooth. The context that fluorescence microscopy and room temperature EM can bring, along with the existing experience within the cell biology field, provide exciting opportunities for structural biologists and cell biologists to work together. Cryo-EM, fluorescence microscopy and room temperature EM are complementary techniques which together provide a multi-scale, ‘multi-information’ workflow. In this session we welcome both structural biologists and cell biologists with the intent to start to normalise this joint approach to answering questions across life science research.

X-rays have powerful penetration and can be used to acquire 3D data of from large volumes. When X-ray imaging is combined with the exquisite details that can be obtained from other imaging modalities such as volume electron microscopy and/or light microscopy then the scientific possibilities are potentially limitless. Using X-ray imaging to non-destructively identify the area(s) of scientific interest within a large sample such that they can be precisely targeted for imaging using other techniques to reveal additional insights highlights the power X-rays have in correlative worflows. In this session we will focus on projects where X-rays were used in partnership with other techniques resulting in the extension of our scientific understanding across a wide variety of topics. 

TBA

The volume EM community is quickly growing and an increasing number of groups are pushing the field forward. New developments in all the aspects of volume EM are arising, from sample preparation to analysis and correlation with other imaging modalities.​

This session will explore the state of the art of the vEM pipeline, including the recent efforts to further develop the methods. 

Scientific research is (should) never (be) done in isolation. By learning from each other and working together we can produce better data and advance our research much faster. This is especially true for the theme of the meeting; “From 3D Light to 3D Electron Microscopy” where different imaging modalities are integrated into a single workflow and we capitalise on the strengths of certain techniques to circumvent limitations in others. The different imaging modalities may however require specialised expertise in each area and no one researcher can be an expert in each area.​

How do we ensure that we make use of each other expertise and what is needed to bring the different microscopy communities (e.g. live light, super resolution fluorescence, in vivo, in situ structural, volume LM and EM, X-ray, Data, and others) together but also the different biological disciplines using those imaging technologies. ​

In this discussion session, we will explore how we best work together, what are the potential technical bottlenecks, and how do we break down barriers between communities. ​

At the end of each session, the aim is to formulate some action points / ideas that could help improve on the way we work together and strengthen our community.  

Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy is a powerful set of techniques, that help us explore and understand the biology under the samples in a more complete way. To do CLEM there are a few requisites that are essential and that can be done with advanced equipment. The question is - “can I still do CLEM without all the high-end tools?” - The answer is a resounding “Yes!”. ​

In this discussion, we will approach accessible methods and can them be combined to perform CLEM. We will also give some “tips and tricks” on how to tackle even the hardest samples, with simpler tools. With creativity at the forefront, we’ll see how much is possible when resourcefulness meets microscopy.  

From niche technique to powerhouse workflow, volume correlative microscopy has come a long way. Today, correlative imaging workflows continue to evolve at the intersection of light and electron microscopy, offering increasingly sophisticated ways to explore biological structures in 3D. This round table invites participants to join an open discussion on where the field is heading—from emerging technologies and workflow integration to data analysis and accessibility. Will freezing samples and imaging under cryo-conditions become the gold standard, or does plastic embedding still have a future? Whether you're pioneering new methods or navigating daily imaging challenges, your insights are key to shaping the next chapter of correlative microscopy. Let’s explore what’s next—together.​

Imaging human tissue presents a unique set of challenges that span biological complexity, technical limitations, and translational relevance. From sample preparation to data interpretation, researchers, clinicians and pathologists must navigate issues such as tissue heterogeneity, preservation of ultrastructure, and the integration of multimodal imaging data. This discussion aims to explore these challenges through the lens of collaborative efforts between the clinical and research environments, highlighting how advances in electron microscopy and correlative imaging can help to bridge gaps in understanding disease mechanisms and improving diagnostic precision. We invite participants to share insights, experiences, and strategies that can help overcome current limitations and shape the future of human tissue imaging and to look at challenges and translational opportunities that could be more effectively addressed by working together to advance cellular pathology using EM methods.