Soft X-ray microscope to power advanced cellular imaging
Official title: Cryo-soft X-ray microscopy at NYSBC
Funded at New York Structural Biology Center · NIH-11339074 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A major imaging instrument upgrade will let researchers study cell biology and disease-related structures with clearer, three-dimensional detail.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York Structural Biology Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 1S10OD040254-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11339074 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are researchers and clinicians who work with cellular or structural biology samples and require advanced imaging to study disease-related structures.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not directly involved in this facility or studying non-biological materials may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
The Simons Electron Microscopy Center plans to acquire a SiriusXT SXT-100 Soft X-ray Microscope to expand correlative imaging capabilities for users across New York and North America. This upgrade will enhance access to high-end microscopy and provide extensive training opportunities for biomedical scientists. The program builds on SEMC’s existing infrastructure, including multiple electron microscopes and cryo-EM facilities, to enable near-atomic imaging of complex biological samples. By increasing capacity and precision, researchers can explore cellular architecture and disease-related structures in new ways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from faster, more accurate insights into disease mechanisms leading to better diagnostics and therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Similar high-end cryo-EM and imaging centers have successfully expanded research capabilities and training through equipment upgrades.
Where this research is happening
-
New York Structural Biology Center
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Marco, Alex — New York Structural Biology Center
- Study coordinator: De Marco, Alex
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.