JISC

Summary 

The resource consists of large scans of microscope slides, which illustrate a range of tissues and human diseases. The images will be presented through a virtual microscope that can be freely accessed from any web browser. The microscope emulates all the functions of a light microscope, so that the user can scan across the image, change objectives (magnification), adjust the lighting, and take photographs of areas of interest. Each image is supported by a legend which takes the user directly to the point of interest on the section and which explains what is visible on the section. The legends take the place of a demonstrator in a histology practical class.

Objectives

The main aim of the project is to produce an on-line teaching package for histology and histopathology - the study of normal and diseased tissues under the microscope. The resource is primarily aimed at undergraduate science students. However some of the basic material will be suitable for teaching in schools and the more specialised material will support post-graduate researchers.  

Anticipated Outputs and Outcomes

The resource will include ~280 slides which are grouped into 10 slide-sets

• Basic histology
• Tissues and stains
• Inflammation and tissue damage
• Infection
• Tumours
• Neuropathology
• Ophthalmology
• Lung and gut pathology
• Liver and Kidney pathology
• Breast and Endocrine pathology
  

Each unit will be supported by a linked work-book, and additional material on the science of histology. The creation of this central resource of digital images will provide a more comprehensive coverage of histology/histopathology than is available in any one Institution, and provide teaching units for users that do not have the physical resources to teach these subjects.  The Open University is leading the project with contributions from the Royal Society of Medicine, De Montfort University, University College Hospital London and the Institute of Ophthalmology. 

A demonstration version of the digital microscope (with limited content) is available at:

http://www.open.ac.uk/StudentWeb/s210demosite/main/main.html

The full version will be available by November 2012. The image sets will be available as open educational resources for users who want to assemble their own slide sets.