University of Ulster has opened the FEI Centre for Advanced Imaging in Northern Ireland, to provide electron microscopes for research within the university's Biomedical Sciences Research Institute
The FEI Centre for Advanced Imaging will also support academic research from other faculties within the university and beyond, including industrial R+D for the university's industrial partners within the region.
The new centre is equipped with a suite of FEI tools including a Quanta ESEM (environmental scanning electron microscope); a Tecnai cryo TEM (transmission electron microscope); and a Nova NanoLab, the world's first DualBeam (scanning electron microscope/focused ion beam) system to provide cryo applications.
Advances incorporated in the Nova NanoLab were developed through close collaboration between FEI and George McKerr of the university.
The new centre is funded in part by a £1.3million investment by the UK Department for Employment and Learning and the Office of Science and Innovation through the UK Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF) 2006-08.
"We are very pleased to have FEI as our microscopy partner for the university's new Centre for Advanced Imaging," commented Professor Stephen Downes, director of the Biomedical Research Institute.
"The advanced performance of these systems and their flexibility will truly enable the centre to meet the demanding challenges faced by users and serve the multidisciplinary focus of the centre and our partners in the region".
Some of the leading applications at the centre will focus on addressing potential hazards related to nano-enabled technologies.
According to Professor Vyvyan Howard, head of the university's Bioimaging Reserch Group, the pioneering technology of the new centre will enable the University of Ulster to become a world leader in supporting the safety of the next generation of nanotechnology products.
"We intend to be recognised as one of the world centres of excellence for investigating nanoparticle toxicology," commented Professor Howard.
"There will be a lot more work to do in the coming years because every single product that is developed containing free nanoparticles will have to undergo a toxicological safety assessment.
"With funding procured within the last few months the new centre will have five highly qualified research scientists working full time in this area".
George McKerr of the University of Ulster added, "We are a fully multidisciplinary lab that can deliver a wide variety of imaging solutions.
"Our research into neural repair and regeneration will benefit greatly from the tomographic capabilities of the Tecnai TEM and our collaborative work with Unilever Research has exciting opportunities ahead in the full deployment of the unique capabilities of environmental SEM.
"This venture also has a window onto all the advanced work that we do with optical microscopy techniques and we look forward to fuller integration".
As global investment in nanotechnology development continues to grow, FEI's tools continue to provide advanced applications for industrial and research users working on the nanoscale around the world.
Attending the centre's opening was deputy US consul general in Belfast, Henry Bisharat, and senior management representatives from Unilever.
In his opening comments Bisharat commented, "Over the coming years and decades, nanotechnologies are set to make an enormous impact on manufacturing and service industries, on electronics, information technology, and on many other areas of life, from medicine to energy conservation.
"Some forecasts have placed the worldwide market for nanotechnology-related products at around £105 billion in 2005 and £700 billion by 2010.
"I believe this project between a leading UK research centre and US-based FEI, a world leader in providing enabling tools, will make important contributions to this new industrial revolution".
"We are excited to be part of this prestigious regional centre for advanced microscopy," commented Rob Fastenau, senior vice president of FEI's NanoResearch and Industry and NanoBiology market divisions and senior executive for FEI in Europe.
"The University of Ulster should prove to be an important force in accelerating breakthroughs in nanoscience - the development of new nano-enabled technologies.
"We look forward to working with the centre for many years to come."
