Characteristics of Czech-BioImaging

Innovative imaging technologies allow for studying hidden biological processes in cells, tissues and whole organisms. Imaging has become one of the most critical elements of research in biological and medical fields. Czech-BioImaging was designed as a distributed RI of imaging research institutions in the Czech Republic. It provides open access to a wide portfolio of imaging technologies and methodologies, thus allowing for the extraction of completely new scientific data, particularly in cell and molecular biology, genetics, physiology, parasitology, tumour biology, neurosciences, developmental biology and pathology. It also increases the qualifications of researchers and students in this field through educational programmes. Czech-BioImaging reacts to imaging needs on many levels – from the imaging of organisms, their tissues and cells to the imaging of cellular organelles, transport, biomolecules and their interactions in health and disease.

Czech-BioImaging offers access to a broad range of imaging technologies, such as advanced light and fluorescence microscopy, super-resolution microscopy, electron microscopy, correlative light and electron microscopy, sample preparation, imaging in neurosciences, magnetic resonance, magnetic particle imaging and imaging data analysis. Czech-BioImaging also performs its own methodological R&I, particularly in the field of the implementation of new imaging methods (multimodal holographic microscopes, new detection systems of multiple markers, new applications for magnetic particle imaging, stereological methods, image processing, analysis methods and 3D reconstruction, including custom software development).

Czech-BioImaging provides its users with cuttingedge instruments and methodologies for biomedical imaging and contributes to the development of biomedical sciences through publication, educational, and methodological activities. Czech-BioImaging represents the Czech Republic through three national nodes in Euro-BioImaging ERIC (European Research Infrastructure for Imaging Technologies in Biological and Biomedical Sciences), of which Czechia is a Founding Member.

Societal and economic impacts

The technological and methodological foundation of Czech-BioImaging significantly improves biomedical R&I due to the top imaging technologies made accessible to users and the professional expertise of the Czech national nodes to EuroBioImaging. Czech-BioImaging also contributes by sharing its experience from research projects, developing new methods for the extraction and analysis of image data, providing continual education to its personnel and intensive involvement in international R&I cooperation. Czech-BioImaging supports the development of biological, biomedical and medical sciences. It carries out measurements for various types of R&I projects and provides feedback, suggests new ideas for making improvements and other technological development propositions to manufacturers. Thanks to its own methodological research, Czech-BioImaging has become a partner of manufacturers in the development, implementing and testing of new instruments. As a result, Czech-BioImaging is also involved in the education of the staff of supplier companies, and plays an important role in the education of users in cooperation with instrumentation manufacturers.

Source: Roadmap of Large Research Infrastructures of the Czech Republic for the years 2023–2026, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Prague 2023, 2024