Imaging Human-Relevant Models: Leica Microsystems Technology Showcase

Widely recognized for optical precision and innovative technology, Leica Microsystems, a Danaher company, has a broad portfolio covering compound microscopy, digital microscopy, confocal laser scanning, super-resolution microscopy, light-sheet imaging and more. Advanced human-relevant in vitro models such as organoids are re-shaping early drug discovery and translational research, providing more physiologically relevant biology for secondary screening, translational validation, and complex disease modelling. They are also supporting New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). Microscopy-based imaging plays a critical role in unlocking the full potential of these models, enabling high-resolution visualization of cellular organization, dynamic processes, and disease phenotypes in a 3D context. However, their increasing size and complexity introduce significant challenges: light scattering limits imaging depth, subtle phenotypes require single-cell resolution, and understanding drug response often requires capturing spatiotemporal dynamics and cell–cell interactions across multiple scales. Advanced confocal and light-sheet imaging technologies from Leica Microsystems are helping to address the challenges associated with working with increasingly complex models.