The Light Microscopy Unit of the Institute of Biotechnology serves primarily researchers at the University of Helsinki and other academic institutions in the area but also commercial users. LMU is a part of the Research Program in Cell and Molecular Biology at the Institute of Biotechnology and a member of Helsinki Functional Imaging Center  and European Light Microscopy Initiative.
Our staff provides training, consultation, support and equipment management services. Larger projects, for example setting up new imaging and analysis methods, can be provided as scientific collaboration. We aim to be a facility for high-end data acquisition with a wide range of supported applications, and to keep pace with developing imaging technologies.

Our instruments include a multiphoton microscope, two confocal microscopes, a TILL imaging system, two Cell-IQ continuous cell culturing platforms and three image analysis workstations. Data back-up and cell culture facilities are also provided. Open access to the instruments is provided after initial user training. The unit is funded by Biocenter Finland, Biocentrum Helsinki, Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Finland and user fees.

Detail of a Finnish 10 cent coin. Three channel confocal reflection imaging shown as an overlay of a maximum projection of the stack. 488, 561 and 633 laser reflections shown by blue, green and red respectively.