FocalPlane - Where biology meets microscopy

Welcome to FocalPlane

FocalPlane is a community site for anyone who uses microscopy in their research. It is a place where you can interact with a global community of imaging scientists, engineers, chemists, and bioimage analysts.

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Recent posts

Spider-like neurons finding their way: signposts for multipolar migration in the developing brain

Posted by Jaakko Lehtimäki, on 11 March 2026

Developing neurons travel large distances and orchestrate into precise layers to enable functional wiring of the brain. Within this unique tissue environment, many neurons use their neighbors like railway tracks, navigating in a directed manner toward their correct layer. However, this is not always the case. Multipolar migration, where cells extend multiple protrusions and display

International Symposium for Mechanobiology 2026

Posted by Carsten Schulte, on 10 March 2026

The mechanobiology community will meet in Glasgow on 12-16 July 2026 – you still have the chance to be a part of it!

Imaging spotlight: Altair-LSFM

Posted by FocalPlane, on 9 March 2026

In this paper highlight from Kevin Dean and colleagues, we learn about Altair-LSFM, a light-sheet fluorescence microscope that they designed so it can be built and operated in biology labs without needing a full-time optical engineer.

Microscopy preprints – applications in biology

Posted by FocalPlane, on 9 March 2026

Here is a curated selection of preprints published recently. In this post, we share preprints that use microscopy tools to answer questions in biology.

JCS snapshot: Redefining colocalization analysis with a novel phasor mixing coefficient

Posted by FocalPlane, on 6 March 2026

In our latest JCS snapshot we hear from Owen Puls, who together with Teng-Leong Chew and team define a new strategy for quantifying biological association that leverages multispectral imaging and phasor analysis, termed the phasor mixing coefficient (PMC). In this snapshot, Owen takes us through the key findings from their research.

Imaging spotlight: the axonal membrane-associated periodic skeleton

Posted by FocalPlane, on 5 March 2026

In this paper highlight, Nick Boyer takes us through the key results and imaging techniques that they used in their research dissecting the axonal membrane-associated periodic skeleton with Rohan Sharma, Christophe Leterrier, Subhojit Roy and colleagues.

Workshop report: CSHL Quantitative Imaging (QI): From Acquisition to Analysis

Posted by FocalPlane, on 4 March 2026

Estefania Sanchez-Vasquez shares her workshop report from the CSHL course on Quantitative Imaging (QI): From Acquisition to Analysis. Estefania’s attendance was supported by a JCS-FocalPlane Training Grant.

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