New Nikon Centre of Excellence brings next-generation light microscopy to Monash University.

New Nikon Centre of Excellence brings next-generation light microscopy to Monash University  

Monash University has partnered with Nikon Australia, a world-leading supplier of optical instrument technology, to establish an Australian-first ever Nikon Centre for Excellence, since the establishment of the local entity in Australia a state-of-the-art imaging facility that will add next-generation light microscopy to the university’s extensive research infrastructure. 

The Monash University Nikon Centre of Excellence will bolster research efforts across the university, particularly at facilities at the Monash Medical Centre, The Alfred and the Advanced Optical Imaging Facility at Monash’s Clayton Campus, and serve as a dynamic hub for educating the Monash research community on the fundamentals of microscopy and the latest advances in imaging technology. 

The university has invested in three new systems in 2025 for Monash Micro Imaging laboratories across the Clayton campus, the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MTRP) and the Alfred Research Alliance. The Clayton and Alfred locations will each receive a Nikon AX R NSPARC Confocal Microscope, and the MHTP will receive a Nikon Eclipse Ti2-E ‘Clarify’ widefield microscope. These systems will complement the Nikon Eclipse Ti2-E ‘Clarify’ widefield microscope at the Victorian Heart Institute and the Nikon AX R confocal microscope at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MTRP) purchased in 2024.

The Nikon AX R NSPARC confocal microscope features include: 

●      Seven lasers, including a 730 nm laser on the Clayton system and a 785 nm on the Alfred Research Alliance system

●      Resonant scanner for high-speed, low phototoxicity imaging

●      NSPARC detector for super-resolution imaging

●      NIS-Elements and NIS AI imaging and analysis software

●      Nikon JOBS automation

The Centre of Excellence agreement will give Monash researchers first access to Nikon’s newest technologies—including advanced demonstration systems and state-of-the-art analysis software.

Microscopy, a technology with a 400-year legacy, is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Breakthroughs are pushing beyond the traditional resolution limits of optical imaging, with innovations in optical techniques, high-speed digital cameras, and live 3D imaging revolutionising how we explore biological systems.

With early access to these pioneering tools from a global leader in imaging, Monash researchers are uniquely positioned to stay ahead, accelerating discovery and driving innovation across disciplines.

Professor Ian Smyth, Associate Dean (Research and Research Infrastructure) in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences said that the concentrated investment in Nikon microscopes across sites establishes a unique ecosystem of compatible instrumentation across Monash campuses. “The consistency in hardware and software unlocks new opportunities for coordinated training, collaborative research, and high-impact workshops—empowering researchers to fully harness the capabilities of Nikon imaging and analysis technology,” he said. 

Stephen Firth, Manager of Monash Micro Imaging, welcomed the partnership.

“The establishment of the new Nikon Centre of Excellence is an exciting milestone that strengthens our position as one of Australia’s leading optical microscopy facilities,” he said. “These state-of-the-art microscopes will provide faster and higher-resolution imaging for hundreds of researchers across four sites within Monash Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and our partner research institutes.”

Masaki Ujihara, Head of Health Care – ANZ, Nikon Australia said that the mission of the Centre was to drive cutting-edge research and to educate the broader community about advancements in microscopy. “It serves as a hub for both innovation and learning,” he said. “Together, Nikon and Monash are shaping the future of imaging, enabling scientific breakthroughs that have the potential to transform both science and society.”

For details of the Nikon AX R NSPARC confocal microscope, please see the Nikon website.

About Monash University

Monash University is Australia’s largest university with more than 80,000 students. In the 60 years since its foundation, it has developed a reputation for world-leading high-impact research, quality teaching, and inspiring innovation.

With four campuses in Australia and a presence in Malaysia, China, India, Indonesia and Italy, it is one of the most internationalised Australian universities.

As a leading international medical research university with the largest medical faculty in Australia and integration with leading Australian teaching hospitals, we consistently rank in the top 50 universities worldwide for clinical, pre-clinical and health sciences.

For more news, visit Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences or Monash University.

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For more information on the new software and other Nikon products, please visit https://www.nikon.com.au.