ImageInLife · Project

Advanced 3D Microscopy Tools for Imaging Living Embryos and Screening Drugs

healthPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

Imagine trying to watch a tiny embryo grow — cell by cell — like a time-lapse movie, but in 3D and at incredible zoom. That's what this project built the tools for. The team developed special microscopes, software, and incubation chambers that let scientists observe living embryos (zebrafish and rodents) without harming them, track individual cells, and build computer models of how diseases develop. Think of it as giving biologists a "Google Earth for embryos" — zooming from the whole organism down to single cells.

By the numbers

consortium partners across academia and industry

countries represented in the consortium

industry partners involved in development

SMEs participating in the project

39%

industry ratio in the consortium

total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms need to observe how drugs, diseases, and genetic changes affect living organisms at the cellular level — but existing imaging tools struggle to capture 3D detail inside whole embryos over time. Manual observation is slow, inconsistent, and cannot handle the massive image datasets that modern biology produces.

The solution

What was built

The project built a multimodal light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) workstation with integrated software, super-resolution imaging systems for subcellular processes in embryos, automated image acquisition systems using the VAST-BioImager for infected embryos, and specialized incubation chambers for multilevel imaging of mammals and zebrafish — totaling 30 deliverables.

Audience

Who needs this

Pharmaceutical companies running preclinical drug screening on zebrafish or rodent embryosMicroscopy instrument manufacturers looking for next-gen light-sheet imaging designsBioimage analysis software companies handling large-scale 3D biological datasetsContract research organizations (CROs) offering embryo-based toxicity testing servicesAcademic core facilities upgrading their live imaging capabilities

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Pharmaceutical & Drug Discovery

enterprise

Target: Pharma companies or CROs running drug screening on living organisms

If you are a pharma company or contract research organization screening drug candidates in living embryos — this project developed image acquisition systems using the VAST-BioImager that can capture how drugs affect infected embryos automatically. With 7 industry partners involved in building these tools, the imaging and analysis pipeline could accelerate your preclinical screening by replacing manual observation with automated 3D tracking across 30 deliverables worth of validated methods.

Microscopy & Scientific Instruments

mid-size

Target: Manufacturers of light-sheet fluorescence microscopes and imaging accessories

If you are a microscopy instrument company looking for next-generation imaging capabilities — this project built a multimodal and multiscale light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) workstation with integrated software and image analysis. They also developed super-resolution LSFM strategies for subcellular imaging inside whole embryos. These are tested designs from a consortium of 18 partners across 7 countries that could be commercialized or licensed as product upgrades.

Biotech Software & Image Analysis

SME

Target: Companies developing bioimage analysis software or AI-based diagnostic tools

If you are a software company building image analysis tools for life sciences — this project tackled the challenge of extracting meaningful data from massive 3D time-lapse image sets of developing organisms. With 6 SMEs in the consortium and dedicated deliverables on software and computational modelling, the algorithms and pipelines developed here could be integrated into your platform to handle complex multi-scale biological image data.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access or license these imaging tools?

The project data does not include specific licensing costs or pricing. Since this was a Marie Curie training network (MSCA-ITN-ETN), IP arrangements would depend on individual consortium partners. Contact the coordinator at Université de Montpellier to discuss licensing terms for specific deliverables like the LSFM workstation or image analysis software.

Can these imaging systems work at industrial scale for high-throughput drug screening?

The VAST-BioImager-based image acquisition system for infected embryos suggests capability for automated, repeatable imaging workflows. However, this was primarily a training network, so scaling to full industrial throughput would likely require further engineering. The 7 industry partners in the consortium may have already pursued commercial-scale adaptations.

Who owns the intellectual property from this project?

IP from MSCA-ITN projects is typically shared according to the consortium agreement between the 18 partners. With 7 industry partners and 6 SMEs involved, commercial licensing paths likely exist. Specific IP ownership for deliverables like the super-resolution LSFM or the incubation chambers should be clarified with the coordinating university.

Is the software compatible with existing microscopy setups?

The project developed a multimodal and multiscale LSFM workstation with integrated software and image analysis capabilities. Based on available project data, the software was designed to work with light-sheet fluorescence microscopy systems. Compatibility with other microscope types would need to be verified with the consortium's technical partners.

How mature are these technologies — are they ready for commercial use?

The project produced 30 deliverables including physical imaging workstations, incubation chambers, and image acquisition systems, which indicates working prototypes were built and tested. However, as an MSCA training network running from 2017 to 2021, the primary goal was researcher education rather than product development. Commercial readiness would vary by deliverable.

Are there regulatory considerations for using these tools in drug development?

Based on available project data, the imaging tools were developed for research use on vertebrate embryos (zebrafish and rodents). If used in regulated drug screening pipelines, standard GLP compliance and validation would apply. The project itself does not mention regulatory certification of its instruments or software.

Consortium

Who built it

The ImageInLife consortium is notably well-balanced for a training network, with 7 industry partners (39% of the consortium) alongside 8 universities and 3 research organizations across 7 countries (BE, DE, ES, FR, NL, SK, UK). Six of the partners are SMEs, which suggests real commercial interest in the imaging technologies being developed. This industry-heavy mix for an MSCA training network means the tools and methods were shaped by market needs, not just academic curiosity. The geographic spread across major European biotech hubs (France, Germany, Netherlands, UK) indicates good coverage of the microscopy and life sciences instrument market. For a business looking to access these technologies, the SME partners are the most likely entry points for licensing or collaboration.

UNIVERSITE DE MONTPELLIERCoordinator · FR
SLOVENSKA TECHNICKA UNIVERZITA V BRATISLAVEparticipant · SK
TATRAMED SOFTWARE SROparticipant · SK
UNIVERSITEIT LEIDENparticipant · NL
THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGEparticipant · UK
DITABIS DIGITAL BIOMEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEMS AGparticipant · DE
FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUESparticipant · ES
THE MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITYparticipant · UK
INSTITUT PASTEURparticipant · FR
UNIVERSITATSKLINIKUM HEIDELBERGpartner · DE
UNIVERSITE PARIS-SACLAYpartner · FR
PHASEVIEWparticipant · FR
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR
SORBONNE UNIVERSITEpartner · FR
ACQUIFER AGparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

Université de Montpellier (France) — coordinator of the 18-partner consortium. Use the CORDIS contact form or search for the project PI through the university's bioimaging department.

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITE DE MONTPELLIER profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to know which of the 7 industry partners or 6 SMEs is best positioned to license specific imaging tools from this project? SciTransfer can identify the right contact and facilitate an introduction.

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