Who is Brigitte Delhomme ?
Brigitte Delhomme, a biology engineer at the Saint-Pères Paris Institute of Neurosciences (SPPIN, CNRS UMR 8003, Université Paris Cité), has always been motivated by medical biology and pathology. With a career spanning over 50 years in biology laboratories, she has honed her skills in adapting and improving techniques. Brigitte's background in medical biology and her extensive knowledge base allow her to approach problems with a diverse set of technical skills, making her well-equipped to resolve challenges in the lab. Her curiosity also extends beyond the laboratory, prompting her to find solutions to improve or optimize laboratory protocols.
Brigitte's passion for unraveling the unseen world has led her to collaborate with Dr. Martin Oheim, a biophysicist specializing in advanced microscopies for neurobiology and expert in neuron-glia interactions, in a quest to make tissue imaging more accessible, efficient, and impactful through a fast, ubiquitous and easy clearing method.
Is making biological tissues clear in minutes possible ?
Traditional imaging struggled with opaque biological samples, turning the study of intricate cellular structures into a frustrating maze. Existing methods for tissue clearing were slow, complicated, and often toxic.
Driven by a shared desire to simplify the process, Brigitte and Martin explored a bold idea: creating a clearing reagent that was not only fast but also safe and adaptable. After countless experiments, they formulated UbiClear, a revolutionary tissue-clearing reagent that transforms opaque samples into crystal-clear specimens in a few minutes.
Non-toxicity and versatility
UbiClear isn’t just another tool. It’s a game-changer. From insects to mollusks, plant tissues to zebrafish, and even mouse organs, UbiClear opens doors to unparalleled imaging possibilities. Its low-toxicity formula makes it safer for bench use compared to conventional organic solvents.
The impact is immediate: researchers can now visualize complex structures with ease, explore volumetric imaging in ways previously thought impossible, and accelerate discoveries across medical, agricultural, and educational fields. UbiClear's compatibility with fluorescent labeling is a central criterion for its use, preserving endogenous fluorescence and allowing for combined immunostaining protocols. Additionally, it offers an affordable solution even for large volumes, such as whole organs, making it accessible for diverse research applications.
With a career spanning 50 years, Brigitte has always been driven by curiosity beyond the confines of the laboratory. Brigitte Delhomme's devotion to science remains unshaken, as she continues to work on her technology, even after retirement, driven by an enduring passion for research and progress.
Brigitte Delhomme's publications using UbiClear
Hugo Touja, Frédéric Brau, Thierry Bastien, Brigitte Delhomme, Martin Oheim (2024) M-Cube — towards correlative multi-scale light-sheet imaging using a compact, modular and moving illuminator. EPJ Web Conf. 309 04013. doi: 10.1051/epjconf/202430904013
Hazart D, Delhomme B, Oheim M and Ricard C (2023) Label-free, fast, 2-photon volume imaging of the organization of neurons and glia in the enteric nervous system. Front. Neuroanat. 16:1070062. doi: 10.3389/fnana.2022.1070062.
Doriane Hazart, Malvyne Rolli-Derkinderen, Brigitte Delhomme, Pascal Derkinderen, Martin Oheim and Clément Ricard (2024) L’intestin, lanceur d’alerte, dans les prémices de la maladie de Parkinson. Med Sci (Paris), 40 6-7 (2024) 544-549. doi: https://doi.org/10.1051/medsci/2024082