The CZI Imaging Scientists program aims to drive breakthroughs in curing, preventing or managing disease by advancing the imaging field. This includes increasing collaboration between biologists and technology experts, improving microscopy tools and expanding access to these tools, and supporting increased training and community building.
“It’s a huge opportunity for the Ramaciotti Centre to lead further development in a fast growing imaging field. It will support our extensive collaborations in seeking answers to fundamental biomedical questions. The grant is a recognition of the strength in imaging at Monash University,” Associate Professor Ramm said.
The grant will fund the development of new cryo-electron tomography imaging techniques to bridge cell and structural biology. Cryo-electron tomography is a high-resolution, 3-D imaging technique bringing together the fields of cell biology (the organisation and functioning of the cell) and structural biology, which traditionally looks at proteins in isolation,.
“Cell biologists working together with structural biologists can understand the molecular architecture of the cell in intricate detail and obtain structural information about large protein complexes directly within the cell. We can apply this technique to our understanding of human diseases,” he said.
Associate Professor Ramm, who heads the Monash Ramaciotti Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, said his team was now applying the technique to tissue.
“It’s a complicated process – you have to cut a window into these tissue layers to be able to look through them in an electron microscope,” he said. “The grant will help us improve the technique and apply it in both fundamental research and applied settings.”
One application of the research will look at how mitochondria – the powerhouse of the cells – behave when things go wrong, which can have health implications including in auto-immune diseases. Another application will probe muscle disease.
“We’ll be able to study that in real tissues, not just cells, as we have done before.”
“We are delighted for Georg, who has worked tirelessly to build our capability in imaging. We thank CZI for recognising Georg’s talents and Monash’s investment in technology that will allow remarkable new insights in understanding how our cells work,” Professor Carroll said, Director of the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute.
The grant enables A/Prof. Ramm to teach both local and international scientists how to use the techniques, drawing on his track record in holding advanced imaging workshops. These will be run as Microscopy Australia masterclasses.
“By collaborating closely with the imaging community and providing both funding and expertise in technology development, we hope to help make the next breakthroughs in imaging possible,” said CZI Imaging Program Officer Stephani Otte.
Read the CZI press release to see the full list of recipients.
A/Prof. Georg Ramm with a cryo electron microscope at the Ramaciotti Centre for Cryo EM
June 22, 2020
