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CCSG Imaging Facility

Overview

The imaging of complex cellular structures is used to determine how the temporal and spatial organization of regulatory events within cells, tissues and organisms impacts both normal and pathological processes. The state-of-the-art Imaging Shared Resource provides access to standard and advanced optical imaging systems capable of reaching these goals and offers assistance with advanced image analysis solutions. Researchers may be trained for unassisted use of all core instrumentation, while full-service assistance by facility staff is also available for quantitative or qualitative image capture. The Facility also offers expert technical assistance with experimental design to optimize imaging results, enabling users to get more out of the imaging technology.

Services

  • Brightfield and Fluorescence Widefield Microscopy
  • Spectral Confocal microscopy
  • 2-photon intravital microscopy
  • Advanced quantitative imaging (FRET, FRAP, photobleaching, colocalization)
  • 2D, 3D, multichannel, multipoint, live-cell, timelapse imaging
  • Small animal, whole body luminescence, fluorescence, CT and ultrasound imaging
  • Low magnification and photomacrography
  • Automated whole slide and plate scanning
  • Personalized training and assistance on all imaging systems
  • Personalized image analysis training and services
  • Assistance with microscopes within individual labs
  • Traditional photographic services

Equipment & Features

Upright widefield microscopes (brightfield and fluorescence)
  • Nikon 80i Upright Microscope
  • Nikon Eclipse NiE motorized, automated upright microscope
  • Nikon SMZ800 and 1500 stereomicroscopes
  • Hamamatsu Nanozoomer S60 Whole Slide Scanner
Inverted widefield microscopes (brightfield and fluorescence)
  • Nikon TE2000 inverted microscope
  • Nikon Eclipse TiE automated, inverted microscope with environmental chamber
  • Nikon TE300 semi-automated, inverted microscope with environmental chamber
  • Leica Mica WideFocal Live Cell Microhub
Laser-based instruments (for fixed and live-cell imaging)
  • Leica Stellaris 8 FALCON WLL 3X TauSTED laser scanning confocal microscope
  • Leica Stellaris 8 FALCON WLL laser scanning confocal microscope
  • Leica TCS SP8 X WLL laser scanning spectral confocal microscope
  • Leica TCS SP8 MP-2 photon intravital microscope
    Pre-clinical imaging systems

    • Revvity IVIS SpectrumCT small animal whole body imager
    • Revvity Vega ultrasound system with Image Guided Injection
    • Xstrahl Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP)
    Other Imaging Systems
    • Traditional digital camera systems (Nikon Z6II)
    • Advanced image analysis workstations
    • Monoprice Vector IIIP 3D printer

    Pricing

    For pricing information, visit iLab or contact the managing director.

    This facility is supported in part by a Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) awarded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center.
    Wistar Imaging Facility Presentation

    See recording of facility presentation.

    Selected Publications

    Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus induces mitochondrial fission to evade host immune responses and promote viral production

    Zhu Q, McElroy R, Machhar JS, Cassel J, Zheng Z, Mansoori B, Guo H, Guo S, Pangilinan C, Liang J, Shen D, Zhang L, Liu Q, Kossenkov AV, Altieri DC, Lieberman PM, Gao S-J, Feng P, Murphy ME, Song J, Salvino JM, Liang Q, Jung JU, Liang C. 2025. Nat Microbiol. 10:1501-1520. PMC12337130.

    TXNRD1 drives the innate immune response in senescent cells with implications for age-associated inflammation

    Hao X, Zhao B, Towers M, Liao L, Monteiro EL, Xu X, Freeman C, Peng H, Tang H-Y, Havas A, Kossenkov AV, Berger SL, Adams PD, Speicher DW, Schultz D, Marmorstein R, Zaret KS, Zhang R. 2024. Nat Aging. 4:185-197. PMC11210448.

    Type I interferon response in astrocytes promotes brain metastasis by enhancing monocytic myeloid cell recruitment

    Ma W, Oliveira-Nunes MC, Xu K, Kossenkov A, Reiner BC, Crist RC, Hayden J, Chen Q. 2023. Nat Commun. 14:2632 PMC10163863.

    ADAR1 downregulation by autophagy drives senescence independently of RNA editing by enhancing p16INK4a levels

    Hao X, Shiromoto Y, Sakurai M, Towers M, Zhang Q, Wu S, Havas A, Wang L, Berger S, Adams PD, Tian B, Nishikura K, Kossenkov AV, Liu P, Zhang R. 2022. Nat Cell Biol. 24:1202-1210. PMC9757154.

    Parkin Induces Ubiquitination and Large Extracellular Vesicle Release of HMGB1 to Activate Antitumor Immunity

    Yeon M, Perego M, Elokely KM, Abou-Gharbia M, Childers WE, Milcarek AT, Bertolini I, Tang H-Y, Languino LR, Stein GS, Ghule PN, Vietje BP, Taatjes DT, Altieri DC. 2025. Cancer Res. PMC12495980

    Myeloid activation clears ascites and reveals IL27-dependent regression of metastatic ovarian cancer

    Murphy B, Miyamoto T, Manning BS, Mirji G, Ugolini A, Kannan T, Hamada K, Zhu YP, Claiborne DT, Huang L, Zhang R, Nefedova Y, Kossenkov A, Veglia F, Shinde R, Zhang N. 2024. J Exp Med. 221 PMC11586802.

    Contact Us

    The Wistar Institute
    Imaging Facility, Room 287
    3601 Spruce Street
    Philadelphia, PA 19104
    215-898-3887

    Directors/Assistants

    Nan Zhang, Ph.D.
    Scientific Director

    Pavan Vedula, Ph.D.
    Managing Director

    Fengchong Kong, MS
    Co-Managing Director

    Frederick Keeney, BS
    Assistant Managing Director

    Shang Wu
    Research Assistant II

    Facility Hours

    Monday-Friday
    8:30 am-5:00 pm