Advanced Imaging and Microscopy (AIM) Resource

The Advanced Imaging & Microscopy Resource is a trans-NIH shared resource that houses, operates, disseminates, and improves non-commercial, prototype optical imaging systems developed at the NIH. AIM also provides support for advanced image processing, including applications of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence. The facilities at AIM are available for use by the entire NIH intramural research community.

While we welcome users with any size imaging project, AIM specializes in large, year-long (or longer) collaborative research efforts with NIH labs – providing sample preparation, microscope operation and development, and data processing/analysis as needed. We take care of the imaging and processing so that you can focus on the biology.  

Pictures of people in lab coats working in a science lab

Read more about the resources available to the Advanced Imaging and Microscopy (AIM) Resource.

Publications

A lipid cue drives the subcellular localization of a self-inserting bacterial transmembrane protein. Pande VUpdegrove TBAnantharaman VBae AChen JAravind LRamamurthi KS, bioRxiv, 2026 May 29

Efficient spatio-angular reconstruction enables high-fidelity mapping of six-dimensional structures and dynamics with polarized fluorescence microscopy. Liu JChandler TLi YAgashe AWei MSu YWu YBaskin TIJaumouillé VChen JXu PYe HZhu WFischer RSSwaminathan VNain ASMehta SBRiviere PJShroff HLiu HGuo M, Res Sq, 2026 Mar 04

U2AF regulates the translation and localization of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial mRNAs. Garcia GRPalangat MMoraly JDonovan BTWang BPhadke ISturgill DChen JZhang GHolewinski RJShort BRivero GASwoboda DMTaylor NMcGraw KLarson DR. Mol Cell, 2026 Apr 02

Intravital single-molecule imaging reveals cytoskeletal turnover as a driver of membrane remodeling in live animals. Heydecker MChen DMasedunskas AMikolaj MNarayan KChen JVishwasrao HMeckel THardeman EGunning PWeigert R, bioRxiv, 2026 Feb 25

Highly dynamic dural sinuses support meningeal immunity. Monaghan KLZanluqui NGSu YRiggle BAPeterkin NJohnson KRRosenblum JSPetersen JDLiu JWang XVishwasrao HDLatour LLMcGavern DB, Nature, 2026 Apr

Identification of Nitrate Sources in Groundwater Based on Multiple Qualitative and Quantitative Statistical Analysis Methods. Xi YXu SSChen JJTao LJing HWGuo JTian YShen XEChen Q Huan Jing Ke Xue, 2026 Feb 08

Staff

Jiji Chen, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
Labs/Section: Advanced Imaging and Microscopy (AIM) Resource

Jiamin Liu , Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
Labs/Section: Advanced Imaging and Microscopy (AIM) Resource

Bertrand Lucotte, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
Labs/Section: Advanced Imaging and Microscopy (AIM) Resource

Brian Lee, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
Division: Labs at NIBIB
Labs/Section: Advanced Imaging and Microscopy (AIM) Resource

Acting Director

Division: Labs at NIBIB
Labs/Section: Advanced Imaging and Microscopy (AIM) Resource
Biomedical Engineering Technology Acceleration (BETA Center)