Welcome!
Welcome to the ICR Light Microscopy Facility. We are a Core Research Facility supporting discovery and translational cancer research across The Institute of Cancer Research, giving researchers, students and clinicians access to advanced imaging — and, just as importantly, to the people who can help you get the most out of it.
From Monday 20 July 2026, our two sites — Chelsea and Sutton — come together as one combined booking core, run by a single team led by the Head of Light Microscopy.
One team, two sites — please book on the correct site. Every instrument and category is labelled by site (Chelsea or Sutton), and each calendar carries a site banner. When you book, check the banner and choose the instrument at the site you need.
Whether you are imaging a single coverslip for the first time or planning a large multiplex spatial-biology study, we are here to help — from experimental design and acquisition through to image analysis. The best time to talk to us is before you start: a short conversation up front usually saves a great deal of time later.
Our imaging underpins ICR science across cancer cell biology, the tumour microenvironment, drug response, genome stability, and translational imaging of patient samples. We provide access, training and expert support across the full range of light microscopy, including:
We support you across three connected strands: imaging, image analysis and computation, and experimental design, training and consultation.
The facility is led by the Head of Light Microscopy, working alongside site teams at Chelsea and Sutton.
Kai Betteridge, PhD, FRMS — Head of Light Microscopy (leads both sites)
Advanced fluorescence microscopy (confocal, spinning-disc, light-sheet, TIRF, SIM), two-photon and in-vivo imaging, and computational image analysis (ImageJ/FIJI macros, Python). Leads ICR microscopy and image-analysis training, and supports group leaders with grant applications and equipment procurement. Chair of the Scientific Services Managers Forum and a member of the Research Infrastructure Committee.
Contact: [kai.betteridge@icr.ac.uk]
Queenie Lai, PhD — Senior Microscopist & Image Analyst, Chelsea
Confocal (point-scanning and spinning-disc), light-sheet (Lattice, Marianas diSPIM) and high-content robotic screening, plus advanced techniques including FRAP, FRET and ratiometric imaging. Image analysis in Imaris (3D visualisation and cell tracking), CellProfiler and Cellpose, with ImageJ/FIJI macro development.
Ross Scrimgeour, PhD — Senior Microscopist & Image Analyst, Chelsea (image informatics / super-resolution)
Super-resolution and single-molecule localisation microscopy (dSTORM, DNA-PAINT), technical lead for cleared-tissue light-sheet imaging, and confocal/live-cell imaging. Image analysis with a focus on image informatics and machine-learning quantification (Python, Aivia, FIJI/ImageJ, Imaris, QuPath).
Louise Howell, FRMS - Facility Manager, Sutton
Confocal and live-cell imaging specialist with more than 25 years' experience; quantitative imaging workflows, experimental design, training and facility strategy. Supports group leaders from the Sutton site with grant applications and equipment procurement. Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society.
Emma Westlund — Senior Microscopist & Image Analyst, Sutton (spatial biology / PhenoCycler-CODEX)
High-content imaging and multiplex spatial-biology imaging, including training and maintenance for the PhenoCycler-CODEX platform, plus slide scanning. Image-analysis specialist in QuPath, Python pipelines, CellProfiler, Cellpose and spatial/neighbourhood analysis; creator of the ICR QuPath training course.
The Light Microscopy Facility is led by the Head of Light Microscopy, who oversees two site teams — Chelsea and Sutton with a dedicated Facility Manager on the Sutton site. From 20 July 2026 both sites are served by one combined iLab booking core. You book the correct site-labelled instrument, and the same team supports you across both locations.
Correlative Light & Electron Microscopy (CLEM) is a separate facility, co-led by Kai Betteridge — it is not booked through this core. For CLEM enquiries, please contact CLEMworkflows@icr.ac.uk.
Our instrument portfolio spans routine and advanced imaging. Every system below is site-labelled — please book at the correct site.
Confocal — point-scanning
Confocal — spinning-disc / super-resolution (Chelsea)
Light-sheet (Chelsea)
High-content, screening and live-cell
Spatial biology / multiplex
Slide scanning / whole-slide imaging (Sutton)
Upright / widefield and specialist
Some legacy systems (for example the DeltaVision widefield microscope and the Celigo image cytometer) have been decommissioned and are no longer bookable. If you previously used one of these, get in touch and we will recommend the best current alternative — for sensitive widefield time-lapse we usually suggest the Advanced Spinning Disc; for plate-based widefield, the ImageXpress.
Imaging is only half the story — we put real weight behind analysis. The facility holds licences for a wide range of image-analysis packages and has deep experience across commercial and open-source tools, including:
Beyond the software, our team builds bespoke analysis pipelines — Python workflows, ImageJ/FIJI macros, machine-learning classifiers, 3D quantification, and spatial/neighbourhood analysis for multiplex data. If you are unsure how to approach the analysis for your experiment, ask us.
Plan your analysis before you acquire most of your data. It is far easier to build the right pipeline up front — please plan ahead and speak with the team.
[Please confirm the canonical public room list for each site — Kai to confirm]
The facility is more than a set of microscopes. We can help you:
For analysis queries, experimental-design advice or support with grant applications, contact Kai Betteridge([kai.betteridge@icr.ac.uk]) or your site team.
Please read this before you image — storage is the user's responsibility.
Time-lapse bookings are charged with the first 5 hours at the full rate, and a discounted rate thereafter within each 24-hour period. Bookings can be made for a maximum of 24 hours on all systems except the PhenoCycler.
Where possible, please run time-lapse experiments out of hours — evenings and weekends — so that daytime slots stay free for other users.
If our support contributes to your work, please acknowledge the facility in your publications. Please use the wording for the site you worked with:
Chelsea:
We acknowledge the Chelsea Light Microscopy facility at The Institute of Cancer Research for providing expert support on microscopy and image analysis. Their support was instrumental in achieving the results presented in this paper. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14851951
Sutton:
We acknowledge the Sutton Light Microscopy facility at The Institute of Cancer Research for providing expert support on microscopy and image analysis. Their support was instrumental in achieving the results presented in this paper. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14708240
Some useful external resources:
The facility holds licences for a wide range of image-analysis software — including Fiji/ImageJ, QuPath, Imaris, Aivia, Zeiss Zen, Harmony and various vendor packages — and the team has broad experience across many programs. The analysis computers carry these site licences and can be accessed remotely (which is why they must stay on).
Two things worth remembering:
| Name | Role | Phone | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kai Betteridge |
Head of Light Microscopy
|
07825415768
|
kai.betteridge@icr.ac.uk
|
CBL -1N12.1
|
| Louise Howell |
Sutton Light Microscopy Facility Manager
|
0203 4376442 or 203 4376845
|
LightMicroscopySutton@icr.ac.uk
|
0E17.1/0E10.1/0E12.2
|
| Emma Westlund |
Sr Microscopist & Image Analyst
|
LightMicroscopySutton@icr.ac.uk
|
0E17.1/0E10.1/0E12.2
|
|
| Queenie Lai |
Sr Microscopist & Image Analyst
|
LightMicroscopyChelsea@icr.ac.uk
|
CBL -1N12.1
|
|
| Ross Scrimgeour |
Sr Microscopist & Image Analyst
|
LightMicroscopyChelsea@icr.ac.uk
|
CBL -1N12.1
|
