10-year vision and strategy to increase cryo-EM capacity in Southern Africa

“As a relatively new technique, cryo-EM is going to continue to grow – there is a lot of scope for South Africa to take advantage of this and lead the way in Africa – there is still a lot of science to be done with cryo-EM.”

Dr Jeremy Woodward, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Our vision is to establish a vibrant cryo-EM network in Southern Africa with the tools and expertise to tackle important scientific questions of relevance to Africa. To achieve this, we first aim to grow a community of African cryo-EM users with the University of Cape Town as a local node and closely collaborate with international facilities, such as Diamond Light Source.

The concept is to create a national facility in South Africa housing a modern cryo-EM that can be used to screen samples and collect high-resolution data.

Many researchers in Southern Africa already have some access to electron microscopes for preliminary analyses. This foundation can be extended by providing expertise in cryo-EM sample preparation, microscopy, and data processing. Appropriate projects could then be identified for high-resolution data collection internationally.

Beamline I04-1 Sample Environment at the UK’s national synchrotron, Diamond Light Source. ©Diamond Light Source

Implementation of the 10 year cryo-EM strategy

  • Follow a cryo-EM hub and spoke model with three cryo-EM research centres: one building on the existing infrastructure and expertise at UCT and two others at publicly funded institutions.
  • With funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the UCT EMU will offer a synchrotron-type model of free access for non-proprietary research, with access determined by a peer reviewed system based on merit for the duration of the grant (to pilot/test the cryo-EM ‘hub and spoke’ model). 
  • A cryo-EM call for proposals will expand access to bioimaging at UCT, enabling students and post docs to use the EMU for sample screening. 
  • Researchers with quality samples will be able to learn cryo-EM and image their samples in the EMU with all expenses paid for by the grant. 
  • The cryo-EM curriculum has been piloted with students.  
  • Details are on the EMU website and the call for applications is open to Southern Africa.  
  • The EMU is working towards acquiring a modern cryo-EM with direct electron detector and automatic data collection.
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