SAN DIEGO — The University of California San Diego and Leica Microsystems, Inc. have combined efforts to establish the Leica Microsystems Center of Excellence (CoE) at UC San Diego. The new Center will support a combined mission to educate the next generation of scientists and drive new scientific discoveries while furthering UC San Diego’s efforts as a world-leading academic and scientific institution.

A signing ceremony will take place Thursday afternoon, February 7, 2019, at UC San Diego’s Leichtag Building between Dean of UC San Diego School of Medicine Dr. Steven Garfin and Greg Eppink, General Manager Microscopy, Leica Microsystems Americas. The Center of Excellence features cutting-edge confocal microscopy technology from Leica, including FALCON fast lifetime contrast fluorescence imaging as well as STED, multiphoton and confocal super-resolution microscopy systems to capture dynamic processes at the molecular level.

“Our core has been serving the microscopy imaging needs of researchers across the campus for more than 15 years,” said Binhai Zheng, PhD, professor in the Department of Neurosciences and faculty director of the microscopy core who will also oversee the new center. “With the support of our institutional leadership, the new partnership with Leica will boost our ability to provide advanced tools to our researchers for years to come, supporting cross-campus initiatives, such as the new Center for Network Medicine and its mission to enhance human life through innovative, disruptive research.”

Garfin agreed: “The science and practice of medicine are relentlessly more complicated and nuanced, requiring physicians and scientists to understand the workings of the human body in ever-increasing detail. The new Leica center offers another powerful tool, one that can be used by students and faculty alike.”

“Collaborating with a world class organization like UC San Diego to enable them to push the limits of what is seen is truly exciting for Leica and we look forward to working with UC San Diego today and for many years into the future,” said Eppink. “Leica Microsystems’ mission is to provide unrivaled insight for our customers by pushing the limits of what was previously possible and visible. UC San Diego is a great ally which will truly allow Leica to live up to our mission.”

One of the most exciting aspects of the agreement is the ongoing collaboration between scientists on the leading edge of research and Leica Microsystems’ product management. The Center of Excellence will provide valuable feedback necessary to drive innovation in software, systems and workflow solutions while informing the applications and advanced imaging and analysis techniques of tomorrow.

The opening ceremony for the Center of Excellence will begin at 3:30 PMin the lobby of the Leichtag Building, and will be followed by a brief reception featuring refreshments with the opportunity to discuss research opportunities at the Center. The Center of Excellence will be located in the UC San Diego School of Medicine Microscopy Core, Cellular and Molecular Medicine East.

About Leica Microsystems

Leica Microsystems develops and manufactures microscopes and scientific instruments for the analysis of micro and nanostructures. Ever since the company started as a family business in the nineteenth century, its instruments have been widely recognized for their optical precision and innovative technology. It is one of the market leaders in compound and stereo microscopy, digital microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy with related imaging systems, electron microscopy sample preparation, and surgical microscopes.

Leica Microsystems has seven major manufacturing plants and product development sites around the world. The company is represented in over 100 countries, has sales and service organizations in 20 countries, and an international network of distribution partners. Its headquarters are located in Wetzlar, Germany.