ScanR workshop report

Posted by Rebecca M. Jones, on 3 March 2025

In mid-August 2024, I had the fantastic opportunity of attending the ScanR workshop; held at the Institute of Biophysics in Brno, Czech Republic and organised by world-leading experts who have been using this technology for >10 years.

Being renowned as the birthplace of the father of genetics, Gregor Johann Mendel, the location was also special, and we were treated with an evening tour of the Mendel Museum, followed by a dinner in the greenhouse, with peas growing in hanging baskets over our heads.

Outside the Mendel museum with a colleague (I am on the right).

Although the workshop was to begin on the Thursday morning, I flew into Brno on Wednesday and within hours I was analysing my samples on the impressive ScanR system, with support from Dr Hana Polasek-Sedlackova. This was incredibly fun and useful as I was able to discuss my research with Dr Polasek-Sedlackova, gained practical experience in using the microscope/software and the images/data I collected will significantly strengthen my future grant application(s).

The ScanR set up at the Institute of Biophysics in Brno

Along with the practical demonstrations on how to use the ScanR microscope and analyse/present data, there were many interesting talks, which gave the workshop more of a conference feel than I had anticipated, making it very engaging. Attendees discussed their research, ranging from DNA replication and genomic instability to plant biology, and demonstrated how they had used the ScanR system for imaging a wide range of samples. This revealed many uses for the microscope, further highlighting the benefits of it for my own work.

I’m very thankful to The Company of Biologists for providing the funding for this trip, enabling me to become a part of this special ScanR community and I very much look forward to the next meeting.

For more information about the JCS-FocalPlane Training Grants visit biologists.com/grants/jcs-focalplane-training-grants/.