Set up in 2009, the DImaCell platform (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Cellular Imaging Facility) is the centre for electron microscopy and biophotonics in the life sciences on the Dijon and Besançon campuses. It brings together the expertise of Burgundy and Franche-Comté's universities and research institutions in the field of cellular imaging.

The aim is to organise the skills and expertise of the various imaging technology platforms across the two campuses, highlighting their complementary nature and the synergies between existing methodologies and technological resources. DImaCell offers high-resolution, high-sensitivity imaging equipment for a wide range of research fields, including medicine, agronomy, the agri-food industry and biopolymers. The platform's goal is to continue developing its technological and methodological resources in 'multidimensional bio-imaging', providing the scientific community (on-site teams and external users) and industry with technical expertise and innovative, high-performance equipment for exploring living organisms functionally.

All these technological developments support the scientific projects of teams at the Dijon and Bisontin campuses.

This platform offers a variety of equipment and methodologies for producing in situ or in vivo images and accessing spectral information, cell dynamics, molecular interactions and quantitative data, from cell organelles to tissues. It offers access to laser microdissection techniques, confocal and multidimensional confocal photonic microscopy (spectral, time-resolved, etc.), multiphoton microscopy, PALM/STORM microscopy, high-resolution vibrational microscopy (simultaneous IR/Raman/Fluo), transmission and scanning electron microscopy using cryometric methods.

DimaCell organises training courses as part of the teaching provided at the two universities, as well as at a national level for an audience of imaging experts.

Every year, DImaCell organises a scientific and technical day. This event brings together a community of national and international scientific experts to discuss recent and developing technologies, and to present the possibilities offered by different techniques to researchers at the two campuses.

The aim of DImaCell is to organise the skills and expertise of the various imaging technology platforms at the Dijon and Besançon campuses, emphasising their complementary nature and the synergies between existing methodologies and technological resources. DImaCell is spread over three technical sites:

•  INRAE/Université de Bourgogne Microscopy Centre (INRAE, Dijon)
• Spectroscopic Imaging (Institut Agro Dijon);
• Imagerie Besançon (UFR Santé, Besançon).

A brochure presents the overall service offering.

It has three main areas of activity:

• providing the scientific community with equipment, technical support, participation in projects, advice and/or training for users.
• development and implementation of new approach strategies (methodological and technological watch) to increase analytical potential, based on the projects/themes of the major user teams. These research activities form the basis of the main developments in new technologies and methods, which are immediately made available to the various users.
• participation in teaching via the Doctoral and Masters Schools, and the organisation of group and individual training courses at local and national level.

DImacell is heavily involved in local structures and is recognised as a platform by the COS Plateforme Bourgogne Franche Comté.

The platform was awarded the IBISAlabel in 2015.

DImaCell is committed to a quality approach with the aim of obtaining certification.