CLF OCTOPUS

OCTOPUS

The OCTOPUS (Optics Clustered to OutPut Unique Solutions) imaging cluster offers a wide range of imaging techniques.

OCTOPUS is a unique user facility with a suite of advanced laser-based imaging and laser trapping capabilities, such as super-resolution microscopy (including at cryogenic temperature), multidimensional single molecule imaging and tracking, confocal microscopy, light microscopy, and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy for life, environmental, and materials sciences. Please, click on 'About' section to find out more.

About OCTOPUS

About OCTOPUS
The OCTOPUS (Optics Clustered to OutPut Unique Solutions) offers a range of imaging techniques.
OCTOPUS Staff
Meet the OCTOPUS Team

Users

Calls for access to Octopus or Ultra
The access call is now closed for this round
Essential Information for Users
OCTOPUS Techniques
OCTOPUS offers a range of imaging techniques.
Schedules
Experiments scheduled across the Central Laser Facility

Life Science Support and Integrated Facilities

Life Science Support and Integrated Facilities
Details about equipment and support our facilities provide

OCTOPUS News & Highlights

£0.47M Investment into Octopus Imaging Cluster as part of Multi-million pound funding boost for Oxfordshire science laboratories
The UK Government has announced up to £8million will be invested in laboratory upgrades and a further £13million in science campus improvements in Oxfordshire.
A4I scheme project with LightOx
The CLF and LightOx collaboration are investigating new applications for LightOx’s light-activated products. This collaboration is funded through the Innovate UK’s ‘Analysis for Innovators’ scheme.
After screening 100,000 compounds, scientists discover a new cancer treatment opportunity
The Octopus Imaging Cluster at the Central Laser Facility (CLF) has aided a long-term study by researchers from the Francis-Crick Institute, AstraZeneca, and Kings College London to find a more effective drug to treat breast cancer.
CLF News Bite: New method developed for studying the behaviour of hot aerosol particulates
CLF News Bite: Octopus Team Analyses Potential New Drug to Treat Diseases Such As Cancer
CLF News Bite: Using Octopus and Ultra to Understand Complex but Vital Processes in Solar Cells
CLF Scientists collaborate in environmental study: ‘Real’ atmospheric samples covering pollution particles analysed using neutrons for the first time
A new approach of studying the behaviour of surface films covering particles taken directly from the atmosphere has been developed by scientists.
Combining state of the art with traditional microscopy at Octopus reveals new insights into protein function regulation
Research combining the newest technique available at Octopus with one of the oldest, to investigate a novel interaction between proteins, has just been published online ahead of full publication in the Structure journal.
Cooking oil emissions polluting urban environments
The University of Birmingham has collaborated with the Central Laser Facility and Diamond, alongside researchers from the University of Bath, to lead to a new insight on urban pollution.
eBIC and Octopus Research on an Intriguing Bacteria Published in Nature Communications
The CLF's Octopus team recently worked in collaboration with eBIC to understand the inner workings of a type of bacteria called Methanotrophs.
From whole cell to individual molecules: a novel insight to the replication cycle of COVID-19
Central Laser Facility involved in research that provides new insights into COVID-19's replication cycle.
How do plants fight infections?
Research carried out at CLF’s Octopus facility, and published in The Plant Journal, has shown the role of chloroplasts in the plant’s immune system, travelling around cells to respond to infection.
Interaction between growth signal receptors in muscle provides clue to muscle degenerative disease mechanism
The research may point to fine tuning the response of androgen receptors to testosterone as a promising target for treatments for Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SMBA) and similar diseases.
Levitating droplets to help understand air pollution.
Air pollution doesn’t come solely from car exhausts and fossil fuel power stations; another key component are tiny droplets of oils from, amongst other things, cooking. The presence of these fatty acids may add to the pollution of our environment.
New Compound that could kill Antibiotic Resistant Superbugs Discovered
Scientists have developed a new compound that has the ability to kill both gram-positive and gram-negative antibiotic resistant bacteria.
OCTOPUS 10th Anniversary
Congratulations OCTOPUS! It's been 10 fantastic years of delivering innovative science.
Octopus brings new light to crystal formation
Many chemical compounds can exist in multiple forms, known as isomers. Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic acid) is one such substance. Different isomers of a substance can have different properties and crystalline forms.
OCTOPUS Highlights
Octopus Paper Published in Nature Communications
"CLF-Octopus is proud to have contributed super-resolution imaging methods to aid the completion of this superb piece of science."
OCTOPUS Publications
Publications from the OCTOPUS facility
OCTOPUS Webinar Series 2020
Scientists Discover a Potential New Cancer Treatment Drug
Using CRISPR-Cas9 to understand DNA repair pathways, a new technique.
Researchers from the Universities of Sheffield, Kent, and UCL have collaborated with the CLF’s Octopus Imaging team to investigate a new technique involving CRISPR Cas-9.