Electron microscopy (EM) provides unprecedented access to study and analyze biological samples at the ultrastructural level, with resolution in nanometers scale.

EM is notably suitable for:

• visualizing normal and abnormal cellular and tissue morphology

• analyzing the intracellular localization of proteins, lipids and other macromolecules

• reconstructing the 3D ultrastructure of cells and tissues

The Electron Microscopy Facility (Pôle Facultaire de Microscopie Ultrastructurale (PFMU)) at the Medical Faculty of the University of Geneva:

• is an open door multi-user facility performing most aspects of biological research that require the use of scanning and/or transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM).

• anyone in the University research community who needs to use the PFMU facilities is welcome to have an access to facility infrastructure

• PFMU is also open to users from other universities and from industry.

• PFMU specializes for cellular electron microscopy (TEM and SEM) using conventional chemical fixation for:
  • ultramicrotomy and ultra-thin sectioning for TEM analysis
  • cryo-ultramicrotomy and immuno-gold labelling
  • volume imaging using focused ion beam and SEM imaging (FIBSEM) for 3D reconstruction of the cells or tissues
  • SEM imaging
  • negative staining
  • ...

To cover part of the costs and to be able to maintain the equipment, fees to use the equipment and fees for specimen preparation are charged to the users.

Initial contact

A prospective user should contact a member of the PFMU staff (see contacts) and determine if the instruments in the facility are suitable for the proposed research.