Africa Microscopy Initiative

Phase 1 PiTCH Fellowship Program fellows are now five months into the program and approaching a significant halfway milestone in their journeys. Here is what they had to say about their journeys so far:

Day 4 marks the close of the MSI Workshop. Thank you to our partners @SABioImaging and @zeiss_micro , and the broader BioImaging community, for making this possible. This forms part of a broader effort to strengthen microscopy across the continent.

Day 2 & 3 of the MSI Workshop: Building from digital imaging and analysis learnings into hands-on multispectral imaging. Workshop participants are engaging, learning, and working together.

Day 1 of the Multispectral Fluorescence Imaging (MSI) Workshop – Workshop opening & laying the foundation @UCTIDM, @UCT_news The program continues and includes an @UCTIDM scientific talk by Dr Ralf Palmisano. @zeiss_micro @SABioImaging

🎓 Meet the 2026 AMI PiTCH Phase 1 Teaching Partners This cohort brings together scientists and researchers committed to strengthening microscopy training and collaboration across Africa. Meet the teaching pairs & read their bios here: training.microscopy.africa/pitchfellowshi…

.@natAfrica1 featured a news story about AMI PEER and the amazing awardees 🇳🇬🇸🇳🇪🇹🇨🇲! Read the story to find out more about the awardees and learn about the impact these donated microscopes bring: nature.com/articles/d4414… aussi en français : nature.com/articles/d4414… 🔬

Read about the inaugural PEER call on @focalplane_jcs !

Thank you to @zeiss_micro for their support, ensuring that the microscopes are not only redistributed but also refurbished, supported, & embedded into local research ecosystems! We also extend our thanks to all who applied & shared their visions for microscopy in Africa! 🔬

4. Application lead Dr Abrha Bsrat Hailu from Ethiopia 🇪🇹 who has received the Axioscope A1 with Phase Contrast and Camera

🎉CONGRATULATIONS! The Africa Microscopy Initiative congratulates the four institutions who have been awarded research-grade microscopes through the inaugural PEER call! A milestone toward strengthening microscopy capacity across the continent. Awardees are:

Reminder: Registration is still open for the PiTCH Fellowship Program online Information Session happening on the 7th of August 2025, 12.30pm UTC / GMT. Registration: uct-za.zoom.us/meeting/regist… Do not miss this opportunity to hear all about PiTCH.

In preparation for Phase 1 of the PiTCH Fellowship Program applications, AMI will host an online Information Session for prospective Global and African applicants. Date: 7 August 2025 Time: 12.30pm UTC / GMT Register here: uct-za.zoom.us/meeting/regist…

📢OPEN CALL FOR APPLICATIONS | Partners in Teaching (PiTCH) Fellowship Program - Phase 1 We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for Phase 1 of PiTCH. Read program details and apply here: training.microscopy.africa/calloverview DEADLINE: 20 September 2025

The Africa Microscopy Initiative (AMI) is excited to announce an upcoming workshop: Sample Preparation for Fluorescence Microscopy, which will take place from 9 to 13 June 2025 at UCT. See the poster below for more details and apply here: 🚨🚨 tinyurl.com/AMIsampleprep

We are pleased to launch the first series of our Microscopy Matters webinar, helping share important microscopy principles with the community! Thanks to @sadomfeh, @NaidooViantha, and @LizeEngelbrech4 for sharing their wisdom! 🔬🌍💥 shorturl.at/lvqMY 🖱️🖥️

🔬 Interested in fluorescence microscopy of fungal pathogens/pathogenesis? The Mycology Bioimaging Intiaitive @MRCcmm is thrillied to announce it's first workshop in CapeTown for scientists in #Africa (w/ @AMI_microscopy) EOI 👇 Please disseminate! forms.office.com/e/gcpvytvyuz