CCR Volume Electron Microscopy (CVEM) aims to develop new techniques in volume electron microscopy (vEM) and, in collaboration with CCR Investigators, apply these techniques to research cell biological questions well-suited for study by high-resolution 3D electron microscopy. CVEM, headed by Kedar Narayan, uses focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), array tomography (AT), electron tomography (ET) and other complementary methods to visualize ultrastructural features of cells and tissues, including cell membranes, cellular organelles, and virus particles. CVEM is a CCR-dedicated laboratory, but projects outside of CCR can be considered on a case-by-case basis. CVEM is operated by Leidos Biomedical Research Inc. on behalf of NCI as part of the Frederick National Laboratory.
Volume electron microscopy - focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), array tomography (AT), electron tomography (ET) and correlative microscopy. vEM instruments can also be used for SEM and STEM imaging on occasion. Note CVEM does not have expertise in Cryo EM (structural biology).
AI based segmentation - Deep Learning approaches to help segment out features of interest from vEM image data. This is an area of active research.
CVEM is divided into a CCR collaboratory component and a technology development component that has a special focus on developing computational solutions to problems in vEM.
CCR Investigators seeking CVEM services should visit the collaboration web page HERE, or contact Kedar Narayan to discuss your project. Limited capacity is sometimes available to assist non-CCR investigators on a case-by-case basis.