April 09, 2024, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)—Heidelberg, Germany
Global BioImaging (GBI) is poised to elevate its initiatives, bolster support for the international scientific imaging community, and enhance sustainability efforts with renewed funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). CZI's support underscores the critical importance of empowering open-access imaging infrastructures and their global communities to advance science.
As an international network facilitating collaboration and addressing imaging challenges, Global BioImaging has achieved significant milestones, including 13 partners spanning more than 60 countries and EMBL; the network has demonstrated its capacity to advocate for the vital role of imaging technologies in global life sciences.
Global BioImaging has played a pivotal role in nurturing and strengthening national and regional imaging networks, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across borders. Latin America BioImaging (LABI) highlights GBI's key role in facilitating initial contacts between partners, leading to the establishment of LABI for the first time. Euro-BioImaging (EuBI) mentions leveraging GBI recommendations to establish key performance indicators (KPIs). Singascope received funding following their hosting of an EoE conference, while South Africa BioImaging (SABI) was able to make a case for imaging towards their National Research Foundation. Canada BioImaging’s (CBI) train-the-trainer courses are set to expand globally, including versions in French (Montreal), Spanish (Uruguay), and online formats. Microscopy Australia, inspired by GBI, continues to fund an internal Staff Shadowing Program. These few examples underscore GBI's invaluable contributions to advancing imaging infrastructure and communities on both national and regional scales (GlobalBioImaging2024). GBI resources are made accessible to everyone, benefitting imaging facility managers, scientists, policy officers, and funders, thus contributing to the advancement of the field on a global scale.
Learn about each network by navigating through their respective webpage links on GBI's homepage: https://globalbioimaging.org/
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Dr Antje Keppler, founder and Coordinator of Global BioImaging stated, “Global BioImaging and CZI share a commitment to advancing bioimaging technologies globally. With CZI's renewed support, we are poised to further strengthen our network, empower new imaging communities, and thereby drive transformative breakthroughs in the field of life sciences.”
Vladimir Ghukasyan, CZI Senior Program Manager for Imaging, shared, “We’re proud to support Global BioImaging’s work to expand and strengthen an interconnected global imaging community. Worldwide coordination and sharing of expertise is crucial to expedite dissemination of best practices across the field and enhance equitable access to imaging technology.”
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In the upcoming phase (2024-2026), Global BioImaging is set to amplify its efforts, with a focus on bolstering training, fostering international collaboration, and enhancing sustainability. Central to its mission is the integration of newly onboarded communities, with a special emphasis on engaging imaging scientists from underrepresented regions like Southeast Asia. Through training programs and job shadowing initiatives, GBI is committed to democratising access to cutting-edge imaging technologies and driving innovation in the life sciences on a global scale.
Participate in the upcoming annual meeting in Okazaki, Japan, highlighting Biomedical and BioImaging Data Management, Image Data Repositories, and Image Data analysis tools (REGISTRATIONS OPEN: #GBI_EoE2024). Global BioImaging and the Advanced BioImaging Support Network (ABiS) extend an invitation to a three-day exploration of cutting-edge technological advancements and collaborative efforts to steer the course of imaging research into the future.
