The University of Nottingham in the UK has launched the Institute of Biophysics, Imaging and Optical Science to develop novel imaging technologies for use in solving biological problems on any scale, including the whole-tissue, molecular and cellular levels.

The institute was formed from two existing entities, the Cell Biophysics Group and the Applied Optics Group, with the School of Biology and the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, respectively. The enterprise, funded by grants from the European Union, the Wellcome Trust, GlaxoSmithKline, and other companies and organizations, will offer a range of optical microscopy equipment and scanning probe systems, including a scanning conductance ion microscope.

Hardware, software and silicon chip facilities will be available as well as biological and chemical laboratory facilities.