La Trobe University’s Bioimaging Platform helps industry partners visualise and understand the microscopic world, enabling clearer insights, better products, and faster results. Whether it’s ensuring food quality, developing new materials, or detecting impurities in mined materials, the platform pairs advanced imaging technology with practical expertise to help businesses solve complex problems and innovate.
Launched in 2019, the platform brought La Trobe’s powerful imaging instruments and expertise together in one centralised facility. Previously scattered across different research departments, this consolidation created streamlined, reliable access to specialised equipment and expert support for researchers and industry alike.
Today, the platform supports sectors ranging from agriculture to biomedicine and from mining to environmental management, making sophisticated imaging and analysis accessible and impactful.
Advanced imaging technologies driving innovation
Despite its name, the Bioimaging Platform goes far beyond biological imaging. “The platform can help researchers get quantitative and qualitative data from a range of samples, from biological to inorganic materials – it could be studying an animal, a rock, or anything,” says Chad Johnson, Optical Microscopy Manager.
Electron microscopy captures extremely fine structural detail, from viruses to the surfaces of engineered materials. Light microscopy allows scientists to observe live cells and tissues, revealing how they behave and interact over time.
Flow cytometry is used to quickly analyse and sort large numbers of cells or particles, a valuable tool in medicine, agriculture, and environmental studies. The platform also offers histology services, preparing and slicing samples for detailed microscopic analysis.
These capabilities support investigations ranging from disease research and cell biology to environmental monitoring and materials development. The platform helps scientists understand how cells function, how diseases progress, how crops respond to stress, and how materials are structured.
Expert staff bring decades of experience and work closely with users to plan imaging strategies, troubleshoot issues, and interpret results.
Since we moved to La Trobe, we have been thoroughly supported by this facility, not only for our day-to-day operations, but also for the advancement of our goals.
Flexible support, from start to finish
One of the platform’s defining features is its flexible end-to-end support model. From idea generation and experimental design to imaging, data analysis, and publication, the team helps users navigate each stage of a project.
“We can assist at any point, from exploring an initial idea through to publishing results,” says Mr Johnson.
The platform’s experts provide practical, ongoing training to enable independent equipment use, making sure that industry clients get maximum value. Internal users gain 24/7 access to the equipment once trained, while external clients receive full support during supervised sessions.
Mr Johnson says that getting sample preparation right is critical, especially for microscopy projects. “If sample preparation isn't correct, the imaging won’t work,” he says. His team works closely with clients to ensure accuracy, helping partners avoid costly trial-and-error.
Tailored solutions for industry needs
Industry partners can engage flexibly, accessing customised support through direct consultations, contracted research, or hands-on equipment use under expert guidance.
Aeterna Health, a regenerative and preventative medicine company who moved to La Trobe in 2022, shows how an industry partner can engage with the Bioimaging platform.
“The flow cytometry facility integrated into our work focused on a deeper understanding of cellular immunotherapy and its impact on an individual’s immune profile,” says Dr Afsar Ahmed, Chief Scientific Officer, Aeterna Health. “Since we moved to La Trobe, we have been thoroughly supported by this facility, not only for our day-to-day operations, but also for the advancement of our goals,” he said.
In another example, a food company approached the platform to test a new food additive – and included a competitor’s product as a comparison.
The imaging helped confirm that their product was superior. “We were able to show that their particular food additive was of a higher quality than their competitors’,” says Mr Johnson.
In mining, companies use the platform to detect impurities in materials, which is important for product quality and safety.
“We can provide elemental analysis to precisely identify the material’s makeup,” says Mr Johnson.
Continuous upgrades for a competitive edge
The Bioimaging Platform provides industry with tools and expertise that are usually confined to specialist research labs, opening the door for businesses to rapidly test new ideas, improve products, and resolve challenging problems.
Originally developed for biological research, the platform’s equipment is incredibly adaptable for broader applications across science, engineering, and industry. “Even though this equipment was designed for biological processes, you can bend it to do things that it wasn't originally meant for,” says Mr Johnson.
Continual updates keep the platform at the forefront of technology. Recent additions, including a new laser dissection system and multiple new instruments, demonstrate La Trobe’s ongoing commitment to providing partners with the latest tools.
“We acquired seven or eight new pieces of equipment in just one year,” says Mr Johnson. “Staying at the cutting edge helps our partners stay ahead of the curve, too.”
For more information and to explore collaboration opportunities, visit La Trobe’s Bioimaging Platform.
