Researchers hope powerful new microscope will reveal ‘root cause’ of incurable bowel disease

A cutting‑edge microscope nicknamed “Curie” has been unveiled at the Rosalind Franklin Institute in Oxfordshire, offering ten‑times the resolution of conventional light microscopes and the ability to image structures as small as 20 nanometres. The device employs a two‑laser stimulated emission depletion (STED) technique, for which its inventors received the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and incorporates deformable mirrors and a temperature‑controlled stage that together enable clear imaging of deep, thick tissue samples and living mini‑organs at near‑body temperature. Dr Karina Pombo‑Garcia, group leader at the institute, highlighted that this unprecedented clarity will allow researchers to visualise protein complexes and cellular structures far beyond the limits of standard fluorescence microscopy, a capability she believes is essential for uncovering the mechanisms behind inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other conditions.

IBD, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affects more than half a million people in the United Kingdom alone, with diagnoses most common between ages 15 and 40, disrupting education, work and relationships. Current treatments are limited because the fundamental biology of the disease remains poorly understood. By comparing the ultrastructure of healthy tissue with that of diseased samples, scientists hope to identify the precise alterations in protein complexes that drive pathology, potentially revealing the “root cause” of IBD. Researchers such as Ioannidis stress that mapping these differences could lead to more targeted therapies, moving beyond the broad‑spectrum approaches that dominate current clinical practice.

The launch of Curie coincided with a major funding announcement by science minister Chris McDonald, who disclosed £67 million for the Rosalind Franklin Institute and £95 million for the Henry Royce Institute over the next five years, sourced from UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. This investment arrives amid broader financial pressures on UK science facilities, with the Science and Technology Facilities Council needing to cut £162 million by 2030 and several national user facilities facing reduced budgets. Despite these challenges, McDonald affirmed continued strong support for key infrastructure, underscoring the strategic importance of advanced tools like Curie for maintaining the UK’s position at the forefront of biomedical research.

⚡ Effects Interpreter