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Principal Investigator: Yingjie Chen
Organization: PURDUE UNIVERSITY
Fiscal Year: 2021
Award: $122,453
Funding agency: National Eye Institute
Project Summary
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) revolutionized structural biology, providing a powerful method to study
biological specimens in their native environment. However, a major bottleneck hindering the wider use of cryoEM
is the lack of trained professionals capable of proficiently operating the instruments. CryoEM is complex and
involves, in addition to an extensive biophysical theoretical background, operation of multiple devices that
requires strict procedures, as well as accurate hand-eye coordination as mistakes in operation can damage
expensive instrumentation. Current best-practices for user training involve repeated on-site hands-on practice
and training with one-on-one supervision by experts. The high demand for instrument usage and staff assistance
for cryoEM data collection often limits the opportunities for hands-on training needed by new cryoEM users. The
goal of this project is to develop a virtual reality (VR) augmented interactive training system, CryoVR, to provide
virtual hands-on, engaging, and self-paced cryoEM training to familiarize novice users with operational
procedures, thereby reducing the need for one-on-one training and on-site practice on costly, in-demand cryoEM
devices. Additionally, we see the benefit of this training platform as a review exercise for users who may have
gone through long periods between instrument usage. We pursue this goal with three aims: Aim 1) Expanding
the current CryoVR project to cover a wider range of instruments in single particle cryoEM, cryo-electron
tomography, and cryo-correlative light and electron microscopy. This will address the need for orienting new
users to cryoEM instruments, developing virtual mastery over a sequence of operations to perform specific key
tasks from plunge-freezing of sample grids to TEM operation, and providing sufficient review for returning non-
expert users. It is designed to be an integrated part of the cryoEM education curriculum as a pre-training before
onsite hands-on training on the physical instruments; Aim 2) Improving users’ learning experience through new
interactive features, such as guided, multimodal learning embedded in VR, enabling lab layout customization,
personalized customization to enhance inclusion and accessibility, hazard simulation for safety training, and
refining hand-gestures and reinforcing constraints for more faithful simulation of the physical actions; and Aim 3)
Dissemination, evaluation, and sustainable development. We will evaluate CryoVR’s instructional materials, their
impact, and outcomes through voluntary human subject studies and expert interviews. We will establish
distribution channels and sustainable development plans to maximize the long-term impact of CryoVR on the
community and public. The proposed approach is innovative in cryoEM training and will be effective, efficient,
and engaging due to the applicability of modern VR technologies and education theories. This project is
significant as it will greatly reduce the time, cost, and risk of cryoEM training, which in turn will lead to increased
capacity for facilities to train new users. The low-cost VR hardware and easily accessible CryoVR software will
benefit all cryoEM facilities and their users on a national and international scale.
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