Expanding the capabilities and use of the South West Regional Facility for High-Resolution Electron Cryo-microscopy (360G-Wellcome-206181_Z_17_Z)

State-of-the-art direct electron detectors (DEDs) and new image processing strategies enable electron cryo-microscopy (cryoEM) routinely to achieve near-atomic resolution of biological samples. CryoEM has thus become a primary imaging technique, increasing the need for research institutions to provide cutting-edge cryoEM equipment. The Living Systems Institute (LSI) at the University of Exeter is a brand new interdisciplinary research centre, which will develop strategies to study diseases and their prevention. As part of the GW4 group (also including Bristol, Bath and Cardiff), we seek to develop regional research infrastructure on a scale beyond the capabilities of the single institutions. Within this remit, the Wellcome Trust-funded South West Regional Facility for High-Resolution Electron Cryo-microscopy will be established in Bristol, with a 200kV cutting-edge cryo electron microscope at its core. To support this venture and significantly increase the capabilities of the facility for all users within GW4, we plan to contribute a state-of-the art K3 DED with energy-filter. We also plan to establish an entry-level multiuser cryoEM facility at the LSI, supporting the research needs of local users in order to provide samples for further high-resolution analysis in Bristol and at the Wellcome Trust-funded electron Bio-Imaging Centre (eBIC) at Diamond.