[Skip to Content]
Post-doctoral biochemistry student Rebecca Oot looks at kidney cells on one of the high-resolution microscopes in the new Leica Microsystems Center of Excellence at Upstate in Weiskotten Hall.

New Leica Microsystems Center of Excellence at Upstate opens Nov. 14

Upstate Medical University and Leica Microsystems, Inc. have collaborated to create the Leica Microsystems Center of Excellence at Upstate, which opens with a ceremony and a reception this week.

The new Center of Excellence will support a mission to drive new discoveries and insights from scientific research performed using state-of-the-art imaging systems.

The grand opening will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 in Weiskotten Hall featuring brief remarks by Upstate and Leica leadership, followed by a reception. The new center features cutting-edge confocal and widefield microscopy technology for super-resolution imaging at the cell surface, allowing researchers to capture images and video of the cellular and molecular processes of life. 

“SUNY Upstate Medical University and Leica Microsystems have partnered together to establish the Leica Microsystems Center of Excellence in order to expand Upstate’s missions in biomedical research and education. The center will provide expertise from Leica on current and future developments in imaging technology that will lead to new discoveries,” said Mark Schmitt, PhD, interim vice president for research at Upstate.

Researchers from across the Upstate campus will be able to use the technology, Schmitt said. Having a Leica Center of Excellence at Upstate will allow researchers to take their work one step further, he said.

“This gives us unparalleled resolution in terms of visualizing the inside of cells,” he said. “It puts us at the forefront in terms of research because it can’t be done in many places; there are only a few of these centers of excellence.”

“It gives us the opportunity to see things we’ve never seen before in live cells.”

Greg Eppink, general manager microscopy, Leica Microsystems Americas, said the collaboration will have great benefits for Upstate and its research.

“With this agreement, we’re enabling researchers at SUNY Upstate to push beyond boundaries of what can be visualized and quantified and fulfilling Leica Microsystems’ mission to provide unrivaled insight for our customers,” Eppink said. “We look forward to continuing this exciting alliance for years to come – it’s an honor to serve the future of scientific research in collaboration with this top-tier institution.”

The opening ceremony for the Center of Excellence will begin at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 in room 103 of Weiskotten Hall. A brief reception will be held in the Setnor Hall Atrium featuring refreshments with the opportunity to discuss research opportunities at the Center.

Hands-on demonstrations of the imaging systems will be available to Upstate researchers next week.  

Caption: Post-doctoral biochemistry student Rebecca Oot looks at kidney cells on one of the high-resolution microscopes in the new Leica Microsystems Center of Excellence at Upstate in Weiskotten Hall.

Top