Making High-Performance Whole-Brain Imaging More Accessible

A recent feature article in BioPhotonics magazine highlights how the SLICE Light Sheet Microscope combines projected light-sheet microscopy (pLSM), advanced optics for cleared tissue, and simplified system design to make high-performance whole-brain fluorescence imaging more accessible to researchers.

 

Light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) has become an important tool for imaging large cleared tissue specimens because of its ability to rapidly acquire volumetric datasets while minimizing photobleaching and photodamage. However, many traditional light-sheet systems require complex optical engineering, expensive hardware, and specialized infrastructure that can limit accessibility for many laboratories.

 

The article explores how SLICE integrates projected light-sheet microscopy (pLSM), HySIL/SCOPE optics, and long-working-distance imaging configurations into a compact and scalable platform, SLICE helps reduce the complexity and cost traditionally associated with advanced light-sheet microscopy systems while maintaining the same or better research-grade imaging performance.

 

From large-scale brain mapping and connectomics to developmental neuroanatomy and disease-model research, SLICE enables researchers to generate high-quality whole-brain datasets with speed, flexibility, and accessibility. The system is compatible with a wide range of tissue clearing methods, including iDISCO, CLARITY, CUBIC, SHIELD, and BINAREE workflows.

 

 

We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved in the development of this technology, especially Dr. Raju Tomer and his collaborators at Columbia University.

 

Read the full article: Light-Sheet Microscope Design Puts Whole-Brain Imaging in Reach for Scientists