Press Release 17.11.2025

German BioImaging project receives DFG funding to enhance resource efficiency in light microscopy

Konstanz, November 2025 – German BioImaging – Society for Microscopy and Image Analysis (GerBI-GMB) is pleased to announce that its project “Increased Resource Efficiency in Light Microscopy by Quality Control and Standards” has been selected for funding by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation). The project is a collaborative effort by Dr. Roland Nitschke (University of Freiburg) together with Dr. Hella Hartmann (TU Dresden) and Dr. Janina Hanne (GerBI-GMB, Konstanz). They will receive together funding for three positions from the DFG for 36 months as part of a nationwide initiative to improve the sustainability of the use of scientific large-scale equipment.

The project aims to increase the resource efficiency of light microscopy instrumentation by establishing and promoting quality control procedures and community standards. These efforts build upon and support the internationally recognized initiative QUAREP-LiMi (Quality Assessment and Reproducibility for Instruments and Images in Light Microscopy), in which GerBI-GMB has played a pivotal role. By improving instrument performance monitoring, standardization, and data quality assurance, the project will help reduce downtime, extend equipment lifespan, and ensure that microscopy resources are used in a more sustainable and reproducible way.

“High-end microscopy systems are indispensable, yet resource-intensive tools for modern life sciences,” says Dr. Roland Nitschke. “By developing and implementing robust quality control strategies and shared standards, we can make these infrastructures both more efficient and more sustainable – benefiting the entire research community.”

This project is one of nine proposals, that are now receiving funding through the DFG’s 2023 Ideas Competition on “Resource Efficiency in Scientific Large-Scale Equipment”, which attracted 75 submissions from a wide range of disciplines. Together, the funded projects represent an investment of around 5.5 million euros for advancing sustainability across the German research landscape.

For more information, please visit:

• QUAREP-LiMi
• GerBI-GMB
• Uni Freiburg Life Imaging Center
• TU Dresden, CMCB Technology Platform, Light Microscopy Facility

Contact:

Dr. Janina Hanne

German BioImaging – Society for Microscopy and Image Analysis (GerBI-GMB)

Email: janina.hanne@gerbi-gmb.de

Dr. Hella Hartmann

TU Dresden, CMCB Technology Platform, Light Microscopy Facility

E-Mail: hella.hartmann@tu-dresden.de

Dr. Roland Nitschke

Uni Freiburg, Life Imaging Center

E-Mail: roland.nitschke@uni-freiburg.de