Pablo Castro, a postdoctoral researcher at the IMPACT Center, was selected in the 2024 Medium-Sized Scientific and Technological Equipment Contest (ANID) to receive funding for the acquisition of the state-of-the-art Tomocube HT-X microscope, which pioneers the incorporation of holotomography for the real-time visualization of living samples.
This new technology, unique in Chile, will be integrated into biomedical research at both the University of the Andes’ Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation and the IMPACT Center. The microscope uses low-intensity light to acquire the refractive index (RI) of cells from multiple angles without the need for staining. This allows for the 3D reconstruction of the sample through computational signals, revealing details of subcellular structures such as nucleoli, mitochondria, and lipid droplets.
“Thanks to this equipment, we will be able to observe multiple experiments in real-time and simultaneously, creating videos of biological processes. This will not only streamline our workflows but also reduce the time needed to execute experiments and analyze results, accelerating the progress of our research,” explains Pablo Castro.
This project also includes the integration of a digital technological platform for cutting-edge research and education that is being developed worldwide and is currently unavailable in our continent. The goal is to foster future collaborations with national users and expand cooperation networks with international partners, positioning Chile as a leader in frontier science.
“This is the first holotomographic microscope in the country, and it will be available to the scientific community, encouraging new collaborations both nationally and internationally. It will also be a fundamental tool for the training of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as for generating visual material for outreach activities,” adds the researcher.