The UNC CryoEM Core was established in 2019 to provide researchers with access to cutting-edge imaging, technical support, and training in cryoEM. Since then, it has grown significantly, developing new cryoEM technologies and serving a large user base across diverse fields in the life sciences. The core’s comprehensive services begin with project planning and extend through high-resolution data collection and processing for key modalities like single-particle cryoEM, cryo-electron tomography, and cryoTEM of nanoparticles.
The core’s successful pipeline has been used to determine over 100 high-resolution structures of various macromolecular complexes, including soluble and membrane proteins. The core also offers advanced methods for sample preparation that aid in the recovery of low-abundant and fragile macromolecular assemblies. The core maintains a strong commitment to education, providing workshops and structured training with required assessments for independent use of the CryoTEM and Vitrobot. Furthermore, the facility is active in method development to provide customers with access to new research tools.
Highlights – by the numbers
- Nine publications*
- Three students completed Vitrobot certification
- 3 Students were taught how to make lipid-affinity grids.
- One student completed our cryoTEM microscope certification
- NIH S10 HEI Grant
- Method paper on affinity grids
- Number of grids imaged 1170
- Number of Vitrobot sessions 154
- New equipment VitrobotMark4+ cryo-plunger (a separate news article will be written in 2026)
- Over 110 maps deposited in the EMDB since 2019
New developments we are looking foward to for 2026
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New lab space for advanced specimen preparation and fabrication of specialized TEM grids.
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CryoEM BootCamp 1-week workshop tentatively February of 2026. Will cover specimen preparation, operation of the cryoTEM, and imaging analysis. Ideal for students or post-doc’s with single-particle cryoEM projects. We will send out a new-letter out on this after the new year.
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Acquisition of a new cryoTEM, a 300 keV TFS Titan Krios G4 equipped with a Falcon 4i DED and Selectris X imaging filter. The microscope is expected to be installed the summer of 2026.
