At the AMU Faculty of Biology, the creation of Poland's first super-modern Cryo-Imaging Centre has begun. The head of the team, Prof. Sławomir Samardakiewicz, believes that it is a fantastic opportunity for our university but also a considerable investment and organisational challenge. He is supported by Professor Zbigniew Adamski, saying that the creation of the centre will open a window into the world.
Both speakers work at the Laboratory of Electron and Confocal Microscopy, established over 55 years ago. Their vast experience, a great team, and the support of the rector's and dean's authorities mean their dream can become a reality. Notably, the initiative of the Poznań scientists was positively evaluated by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, as reflected in its inclusion on the Polish Road Map for Research Infrastructure.
- "For us, the entry on this list is a signal indicating that the Polish state treats this field of research as a priority," says Prof. Slawomir Samardakiewicz. - This factor also opens up separate funding closely linked to the Polish Research Infrastructure Map.
It won't be cheap, but...
The project will not be, because it cannot be, cheap. Scientists predict that the cost of the centre will reach several dozen million PLN. It is hardly surprising since the development of freezing techniques in recent years has resulted in the current use of cryo-microscopy, which not only significantly improves the quality of imaging but above all, creates entirely new research opportunities. Evidence of this includes the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the creation of a method for imaging protein structure using high-resolution electron cryomicroscopy.
- "The introduction of the method enabled the structure of protein molecules and complexes to be observed for the first time at near-atomic resolution, in the most natural state", says Prof Slawomir Samardakiewicz. - "We could experience the importance of implementing this technology at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ability to quickly visualise the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus spikes using a high-resolution electron cryomicroscope enabled the development of a suitable vaccine in record time", he explains.
Source: Życie Uniwersyteckie
Photo Credit: Łukasz Gdak