Euro-Bioimaging Node - Bilbao Node

Located within the Science Park of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) in the Bilbao metropolitan area, the Bilbao node conducts quantitative research on cellular processes, focusing on molecular interactions and biophysical phenomena such as lipid-mediated protein interactions. The node's work includes lipid-order imaging of model membranes and cells, as well as studies on the neurobiology of neuron-glial interactions. The Advanced Light Microscopy Node in Bilbao, Spain (ALM@BIO), is a collaborative initiative between the imaging platforms of the Instituto Biofisika (CSIC-UPV/EHU) and the Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience.

The Bilbao Node serves as a premier resource in the Basque region, providing state-of-the-art microscopy tools, including super-resolution and confocal microscopes, as well as live-cell imaging systems that enable high-resolution, three-dimensional, and time-lapse imaging essential for capturing intricate structural details and dynamic processes across biological and material sciences. Alongside this advanced technology, the Node offers expert support and training through workshops, personalized sessions, and assistance with experimental design and data analysis, empowering researchers to utilize these tools entirely. By fostering an interdisciplinary research environment, the facility brings together scientists from fields such as molecular biology, neuroscience, and materials science, creating a collaborative space where insights from diverse fields converge to advance knowledge through microscopy.

The Node also provides access to sophisticated imaging software and data analysis tools, supporting precise processing and quantification of microscopy data. Open to academic and industrial researchers, it promotes scientific engagement and innovation, positioning the Basque region as a hub for groundbreaking advances in microscopy and neuroscience on a regional and international level.

Dedicated to understanding the organization and processing of information within neural circuits, the Node focuses on uncovering the genetic and molecular foundations that shape these circuits throughout development and aging. Researchers also investigate the genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms that underlie neurodegenerative and autoimmune brain diseases, informing translational research to develop innovative strategies for treating brain disorders. Through its unique combination of advanced imaging technology and expertise, the Bilbao Node supports a wide range of scientific studies and focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms of biological processes at molecular and cellular levels, particularly within biophysics.

Offered Technologies​

 Deconvolution widefield microscopy (DWM)

• Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM/CLSM)

• Spinning disk confocal microscopy (SDCM)

• Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF)

• Two-photon microscopy (2P)

• Single Molecule localisation microscopy (SMLM)

• Stimulated emission depletion microscopy (STED)

• Single Particle Tracking (SPT)

• Lightsheet Mesoscopic Imaging (SPIM /sDSLM)

• Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching (FRAP)

• Microdissection

• Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM)

• High Throughput Microscopy / High-Content Screening (HTM/HCS)

• Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)

• Fluorescence (cross)-correlation spectroscopy (FCS/FCCS)

• Voltage/pH/Ion Imaging

• Photomanipulation

• Expansion Microscopy

• Tissue Clearing

• Single Molecule FRET

• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)

• Image analysis -bio (IA-bio)