Big response to live cell imaging workshop.

More than 40 students from local universities gathered recently at Monash University to learn about Live Cell Imaging and be among the first to use the only such machine in Southeast Asia.

The two-day Advanced Live Cell Imaging workshop organised by the Brain Research Institute at Monash University was aimed at sharing techniques for the preparation and observation of live cell activity, said Monash University's Director of Medical Research Professor Ishwar Parhar.

Professor Parhar, one of the world's leading neuroscientists, also leads the research institute, which is carrying out frontier research in a number of high impact areas.

Areas covered include behavioural neurogenetics; brain imaging; nanotechnology; neuroinformatics; molecular morphology; and proteomics & genomics.

"We have made a significant investment in acquiring the Live Cell Imaging microscope and in view of the increased interest in neuroscience in Malaysia, saw a good opportunity to share our resources," said Professor Parhar.

He said the microscope was particularly useful for monitoring cell activity in real time and offered a major step forward in research into cell activity.

Presenters at the workshop included Dr Markus Schechter, from Leica Microsystems, Germany.

He said the response to the workshop was very encouraging and reflected an increased interest in neuroscience in Malaysia.