A London consortium to establish a high resolution cryo-electron microscopy facility for research and training (360G-Wellcome-206175_Z_17_Z)

With the recent revolutionary advances in electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM), made possible largely by state-of-the-art microscopes (the Titan Krios), direct electron detectors and data processing, it is becoming realistic to determine atomic resolution structures of macromolecules using cryo-EM. Indeed, cryo-EM is the only method available for structural determinations of many large proteins and complexes that are difficult to produce or of transient, dynamic nature. Recent examples demonstrate that cryo-EM can be used to study proteins as small as 150 kDa and achieve resolution better than 2 Å, making cryo-EM potentially the leading methodology for most structural biology projects. London has the highest concentration of structural biologists in the UK, but to date the only Krios instruments are due to be installed at the Francis Crick institute for the sole usage of the large number of Crick-affiliated researchers. Consequently, the majority of London researchers have no rapid or local access to a Krios setup, significantly affecting our international competitiveness. The London consortium for cryo-EM (LonCEM) brings together researchers from Imperial College London, Institute of Cancer Research, Kings College London and Queen Mary University London and proposes to establish a high-resolution cryo-EM facility to enable excellent research, collaborations and training.