Inauguration of a new CryoEM facility at the ESRF

This advanced state-of-the-art microscope further strengthens the EPN science campus's position as a leader in structural biology, benefiting from the combined expertise and collaborative environment of the participating institutes.

CM02 will be instrumental in advancing structural biology research, particularly in areas like drug discovery and biomedical science, and will enhance our understanding of biomolecular dynamics. Positioned at ESRF, CM02 will complement other cutting-edge structural and cell biology techniques, enabling comprehensive analyses from atomic to cellular scales.

From left to right: Yves Mechulam, scientific delegate of the CNRS Biologie, Yassine Lakhnech, president of the UGA, Gabriele Fioni, recteur délégué pour l'enseignement supérieur, la recherche et l'innovation of the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Pascale Bayle Guillemaud, director of CEA-IRIG, Jean Daillant ESRF Director General, Bruno Robert, director of the scientific interest group IBISA, Winfried Weissenhorn, director of the IBS, Francesco Sette, Advisor to the ESRF Council and Guy Schoehn, researcher of the IBS in charge of the instrument.

The TITAN KRIOS G4, made available to the French and European scientific communities, represents a significant technological leap in structural biology. Operated by the IBS (CNRS / UGA / CEA) and funded by the French "Programme d'Investissement d'Avenir" (PIA3) and the "Equipex + France Cryo-EM" initiative, it marks a major advance for collaborative structural biology research in France and Europe.

“This microscope symbolises both the collaborative spirit of the Partnership for Structural Biology (PSB), where institutes work together for common benefit, and the shared national and international dimension of science, with cutting-edge instruments and expertise to advance knowledge and address biology and health challenges", says Guy Schoehn, IBS scientist, responsible for CM02.

“The addition of CM02 is an extremely valuable and timely addition to CM01 and to the portfolio of cutting-edge beamlines dedicated to structural biology. We are very grateful to the funding bodies that made this possible and the team around Guy Schoen, who opened the instrument to users on time in September 2024”, explains Michael Krisch, ESRF Director of Research for Life Science.

Top image: The new Titan Krios CM02, located at the ESRF.