Facility Details

Overview of the WUCCI

The Washington University Center for Cellular Imaging (WUCCI) is a university‑wide shared technology and innovation hub established in 2015 by the Departments of Neuroscience and Cell Biology & Physiology. Its mission is to provide reliable, affordable access to cutting‑edge light and electron microscopic imaging technologies, expert consultation, and collaborative research partnerships to advance understanding of cellular structure, function, and human disease. (https://research.washu.edu/core-facilities/center-cellular-imaging/)

WUCCI fosters an interdisciplinary environment supported by multiple departments and national funding agencies, enabling innovation, education, and deep integration of microscopy with biomedical research.(https://wucci.wustl.edu/about/)

WUCCI‑Couch

The WUCCI‑Couch location, housed in the Debra and George W. Couch III Biomedical Research Building, provides \\~7,600 sq ft of purpose‑built microscopy and sample‑prep space, including:

Eighteen light‑microscopy workstations across three suites.

Four electron microscopes (ranging from 30 kV to 300 kV) and one focus ion beam for cryo-ET.

Extensive EM sample‑prep labs, including freezing facilities, wet‑lab prep spaces, and resin- and cryo- ultramicrotomy suites.

Tissue culture, short‑term live animal imaging space, and a 10‑desk analysis suite for high‑performance image processing.

Staff offices, workshops, and multipurpose educational spaces.(https://research.washu.edu/core-facilities/center-cellular-imaging/)

WUCCI Fort (WUCCI‑Neuro at The Fort)

In 2023, WUCCI expanded by opening WUCCI‑Neuro at the Fort Neuroscience Research Building, strengthening capacity for advanced cellular and ultrastructural imaging in neuroscience research.(https://research.washu.edu/core-facilities/center-cellular-imaging/)

Technologies

WUCCI provides a comprehensive suite of advanced imaging systems:

Light Microscopy

Confocal, resonant‑scanning confocal, and spinning‑disk confocal systems.

Super‑resolution platforms such as Nikon N‑SIM structured illumination.

Live‑cell imaging systems with advanced laser lines, spectral detectors, and environmental control.

Extensive electron and ion microscopy infrastructure. (https://www.microscope.healthcare.nikon.com/bioimaging-centers/nic-and-cofe/washington-university-in-st-louis)

Correlated Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM)

WUCCI supports both cryo‑ and resin‑based CLEM workflow, enabling precise registration of optical signals with ultrastructural detail in:

*Whole‑cell and tissue imaging
*Organelle mapping
*Localization of proteins, probes, and dynamic cellular events

These capabilities bridge fluorescence‑based functional imaging with high‑resolution electron microscopy to reveal molecular context within native architecture.

Correlated Volume Electron Microscopy (cvEM)

WUCCI provides cryo‑ and resin‑based cvEM, allowing researchers to:

* Acquire large‑scale 3D ultrastructural datasets

Correlate volume EM with live‑cell and fixed‑cell fluorescence imaging

Map circuits, tissue microarchitecture, and organelle networks at nanometer resolution

These pipelines support multi‑scale studies from dynamic cellular events to full volumetric ultrastructure.

Services

WUCCI offers complete end‑to‑end research support:

Training on all imaging modalities and workflows.

Assistance with experimental design, sample preparation, and data acquisition.

Advanced image analysis, including high‑dimensional and large‑volume datasets.

Service requests, project planning, and instrument scheduling through iLab. (https://wucci.wustl.edu/)

24/7 facility access for trained users, with staffed support on weekdays. (https://wustl.ilabsolutions.com/service_center/show_external/3850/washington-university-center-for-cellular-imaging)

Education & Training

WUCCI provides robust education and training programs:

Introductory and advanced training for all light, electron, and multi‑modal imaging systems.

Workshops, symposia, user‑group meetings, and special programs such as the Cryo‑EM. (https://wucci.wustl.edu/)

Training in quantitative imaging, computational workflows, and visualization of large multi‑dimensional datasets.

Opportunities for collaboration in instrument development, automated sample‑prep systems, and new visualization algorithms. (https://wucci.wustl.edu/)

History & Growth

2015 — WUCCI was established as a world‑class shared imaging center and resource. (https://research.washu.edu/core-facilities/center-cellular-imaging/)

2015–2024 — Expansion of instrumentation, analytical and quantitative imaging, sample‑prep infrastructure, and educational programs.

2023 — Opening of WUCCI‑Neuro at The Fort, extending integrated microscopy into neuroscience. [\\[research.washu.edu\\]](https://research.washu.edu/core-facilities/center-cellular-imaging/)

Ongoing — Innovation in multi‑modal imaging, non-destructive analytical and analytical imaging techniques, and advanced imaging workflow development. (https://wucci.wustl.edu/)