Located in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, West Island of Montreal, MuSIF enables researchers and organizations to explore biological and material structures from the macro scale to the nanoscale. The facility integrates multiple imaging modalities, including:
- Light microscopy
- Confocal and fluorescence microscopy
- Electron microscopy
- Advanced image analysis
MuSIF supports the full imaging workflow, from sample preparation and experimental design to data acquisition and quantitative analysis. Users include: academic researchers, students and research laboratories, government research institutions, industry partners and technology companies.
By combining state-of-the-art instrumentation with expert scientific support, MuSIF helps researchers generate high-quality imaging data for discovery, publication, and innovation.
The Technical Experts and Staff
Meet our experts
Prof. Anja Geitmann - Scientific Director
Prof. Geitmann provides the administrative and scientific leadership of MuSIF, ensuring the facility continues to grow as a world-class imaging platform at McGill University.
Her responsibilities include securing funding for instrument acquisition, overseeing reporting to funding agencies, and directing the hiring and supervision of facility staff.
Prof. Pierre Dutilleul - Lead Scientist, CT Scanner
Prof. Dutilleul oversees all operations related to the CT scanner, providing expert guidance to users and clients on experimental design and data analysis strategy.
His responsibilities include coordinating project deliveries, supervising follow-ups, and ensuring that CT scanning workflows meet the highest scientific standards.
McGill Scientific Advisors
MuSIF collaborates closely with McGill scientists and scientific advisors whose expertise is a key factor distinguishing the facility from other imaging platforms.
Their knowledge contributes to the development and application of advanced imaging approaches in areas such as plant imaging, cellular biology, materials science, and quantitative image analysis.
The Leadership Team
MuSIF is supported by a multidisciplinary team of scientists, technical specialists, and advisors with expertise in microscopy, imaging technologies, and experimental design.
Dr. Youssef Chebli - Facility Manager
The director oversees the scientific strategy and operations of the facility, ensuring the platform provides cutting-edge imaging technologies and expert support to the research community.
Responsibilities include scientific leadership and facility development, research collaborations and partnerships, the development of new imaging capabilities, and strategic integration with national research infrastructure.
Dr. Diksha Bhola - Image Analysis Specialist
Technical specialists support the daily operation of the facility and assist researchers with instrument training, experimental design, sample preparation, imaging workflows, image processing, and data analysis.
This expertise ensures users can obtain reliable and reproducible imaging data from advanced microscopy systems.
Liwen Han - CT Scanning Specialist
Liwen Han manages the day-to-day operation of the CT scanner, from exam planning and protocol optimization to sample installation and data acquisition.
Upon request, Liwen also performs graphical and quantitative analysis of CT datasets, ensuring users receive reliable and actionable imaging results.
Lorena Sora - Marketing Officer
Serving as a primary liaison, Lorena works closely with users, clients, and potential partners to align MuSIF services with evolving research and commercial needs.
Additionally, she manages all organizational communications and promotional materials, as well as providing hands-on support for workshops, seminars, and community outreach events.
ECP3 Platform: National Research Infrastructure
MuSIF is part of the ECP3 Platform, a national research infrastructure supporting advanced electron microscopy and cryogenic sample preparation. Through this platform, the facility contributes to a broader network of research centers working to develop high-resolution imaging technologies and expertise. Participation in the ECP3 platform provides:
- Access to specialized preparation techniques
- Collaboration with national imaging experts
- Integration into Canadian research infrastructure
- Support for advanced microscopy methods
This connection strengthens MuSIF’s role as a regional and national resource for scientific imaging.
Institutional and Research Partners
MuSIF operates through collaborations with leading research institutions and networks.
McGill University
The facility is hosted by McGill University, one of Canada’s leading research universities. McGill provides:
- research infrastructure
- institutional support
- access to a large community of scientists and students
This environment enables the facility to support cutting-edge research across multiple disciplines.
Research Networks
MuSIF collaborates with research networks that promote the development and use of advanced imaging technologies in Canada. These collaborations facilitate: knowledge exchange, technology transfer, shared expertise in microscopy and imaging methods. Through these collaborations, the facility contributes to strengthening scientific capacity and fostering innovation across the research ecosystem.
Scientific Collaborators
The facility works with collaborators from academic laboratories, government research institutions, industry partners.
These collaborations help expand the applications of imaging technologies across scientific research, environmental monitoring, agriculture, and materials science.
Contact MuSIF
McGill University, Macdonald CampusRaymond Building, Office R2-021a
21111 Lakeshore, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Montreal, Québec, H9X 3V9
Email: musif-ecp3 [at] mcgill.ca (musif-ecp3[at]mcgill[dot]ca)
Tel:+1 514 396 1604
