Transmission Electron Microscopy

To provide state-of-the-art electron microscopy services, EPL has an agreement with Virginia Tech for the Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies (LNS) at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech.  Operating under the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine GLP Program, the LNS is a fully GLP-compliant transmission electron microscopy laboratory that has supported regulatory studies for over 25 years.  The laboratory provides complete services for tissue trimming, tissue processing, epoxy resin embedding, sectioning for light and electron microscopy, imaging, and interpretation.  Ultrastructural studies are performed using a contemporary JEOL JEM-1400 TEM with a side-mounted Gatan Orius SC1000 CCD camera.

Dr. Thomas Cecere, a board-certified veterinary pathologist, is the LNS director for electron microscopy.  The laboratory is managed by Sandy Hancock, a Registered Quality Professional in GLPs with over 30 years of experience in electron microscopy.  The LNS staff is available for assistance, instruction, or advice on ultrastructural aspects of a study, including design, proper fixation and preparation, and handling of biological samples and protocol development. EPL pathologists can participate in the designs and conduct of electron microscopy projects and work closely with the LNS to provide the evaluation and interpretation of transmission electron microscopy in both research and GLP-compliant regulatory settings.