The inaugural "Super-Resolution Photoelectric Correlative Electron Microscopy Training Course" was held from January 14 to 16, 2026, at the Multi-Modal Cross-Scale Biomedical Imaging Facility in Huairou Science City, Beijing.

Organized by the Biomedical Imaging Branch of the Biophysical Society of China, and co-hosted by the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, the course aimed to advance national strategies in multi-modal, cross-scale biomedical imaging and high-end electron microscopy technology. It focused on developing high-level technical talent in electron microscopy and optical imaging.

The training attracted over 50 participants, including students, experts, corporate representatives, and staff, highlighting collaborative exchange in the biomedical imaging field. The course covered interdisciplinary technologies such as super-resolution optical imaging, electron microscopy, cryo-electron microscopy, and correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM). This comprehensive teaching and practice system aimed to enhance the analysis of complex biological samples across scales.

Integrated curriculum

The curriculum focused on key areas in electron microscopy and CLEM, including:

·Large-scale volume electron microscopy (vEM)

·Universal probes for light and electron microscopy

·Cryo-electron microscopy principles and sample preparation

·Single-molecule localization microscopy and cryo-photoelectric correlative imaging

·EDS/EELS elemental and chemical state analysis

·Brain tissue ultrastructure annotation and synaptic connectomics

·3D brain electron microscopy data analysis and neural circuit reconstruction

This "principle-method-data-application" approach helped participants understand the complementary and collaborative application modes of different imaging methods, establishing a transferable and reusable technical framework for scientific research.

Led by international and domestic experts

Professor Ben Giepmans, an authority in electron microscopy and CLEM, led the training. He is the President of the Netherlands Microscopy Society and an Associate Professor at the University Medical Center Groningen. The course also featured experts from institutions like Peking University and the Institute of Biophysics, showcasing China's strength in biomedical imaging.

Balancing theory and practice

The training combined seminars and workshops, focusing on electron microscopy structural analysis of brain tissue, multi-modal correlation of complex samples, and 3D neural circuit reconstruction. Participants engaged in sample preparation, electron and cryo-electron microscopy operation, EDS/EELS analysis, connectomics data analysis, and WebKnossos neuron tracing, enhancing their application capabilities in high-end imaging technology.

Future directions

The successful hosting of this training course laid a foundation for talent cultivation in super-resolution imaging and CLEM in China. The Biomedical Imaging Branch of the Biophysical Society of China will continue organizing academic exchanges and technical training, promoting standardized application and innovative development of biomedical imaging technology. These efforts aim to build a sustainable "public knowledge base" for the discipline, connecting academic frontiers with the discipline community and laying a methodological system and talent foundation for the long-term development of cross-scale biomedical imaging in China.