Dear FILM Users, We hope this message finds you well. Due to recent staff shortages and an increase in service demands, we are unfortunately required to offer reduced support temporarily as we work on rebuilding our capacity in terms of both staffing and hardware. This message is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the current challenges we face and outline our strategies for addressing these issues to enhance our service in support of our evolving community. **Current FILM Achievements and Challenges:** The FILM team extends our deepest gratitude for your continued support and engagement with our imaging and microscopy facility. Reflecting on 2023, we are proud to have supported 429 users across 156 groups, marking a significant increase in the utilization of FILM scopes. These achievements highlight the importance and impact of our collective efforts. However, alongside these successes, we have encountered several challenges. According to the internationally recognized manual "Advanced Light Microscopy Core Facilities: Balancing Service, Science, and Career<http://edoc.mdc-berlin.de/15636/1/15636oa.pdf>," authored by 15 leading scientific institutions, the optimal user-to-imaging specialist staff ratio is 50:1. Over the past few years, and particularly in 2023, our ratio has significantly exceeded this benchmark (detailed figures and tables are provided at the end of this message), with only myself and David managing the FILM operations for extended periods (4-5 months). The strain is further compounded by our instrument-to-imaging specialist ratio. Not only do we manage a considerable number of instruments, but many of them are outdated and require additional maintenance and attention. Moreover, we are eager to expand FILM to accommodate new user communities at South Kensington and Hammersmith. This expansion necessitates careful planning and additional time to implement effectively. **What is Changing:** In striving to maintain 'business as usual' at FILM, the cumulative impact of these challenges has significantly affected our wellbeing and health. Consequently, we must adjust our operations in the coming weeks to recover our health. This adjustment is crucial for ensuring the continued provision of high-quality support and the long-term integrity of our facility, even if it means a temporary reduction in the pace of our services. Specifically, we anticipate delays in imaging system training and image analysis support. Additionally, we may need to work remotely for 1-2 days per week to address administrative tasks that are typically postponed due to onsite obligations. **What You Can Do:** We understand that these changes may impact your planned activities, and we are committed to minimizing any inconvenience through clear and open communication. We value your understanding and cooperation as we navigate these challenges together. Our commitment to supporting your research endeavors remains strong, and we believe that with mutual support and understanding, we can continue to achieve outstanding results together. We encourage experienced users within groups to collaborate, allowing more efficient use of booking times and training for less experienced users. If you encounter urgent needs, please contact us so we can explore potential solutions together. **When Will Things Improve?** We are pleased to announce the addition of Madeline<https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeline-tisi-a1b943152/>, our new microscopy specialist, on March 18, 2024, and we anticipate recruiting a multiplex microscopy<https://www.leica-microsystems.com/products/light-microscopes/p/cell-dive/> apprentice later this year. Their integration into our team, along with the decommissioning of some of our oldest equipment, will alleviate the current pressures and enable FILM staff to operate at the standard we all value and take pride in, even though with a reduced availability of microscopes. While the road to recovery may be gradual, it is a necessary path to ensure a stable and confident return to normal operations without facing even greater challenges. We thank you again for your dedication to our service. For any questions or further clarification, please feel free to reach out. Warm regards, FILM Team --- FILM is a very strong outlier in the proportion of staff/users ratio: [Image] FILM staff and users numbers since 2020: Year Staff Users Groups % Over Norm 2023 3 429 156 286% 2022 3.4 426 168 250% 2021 3 383 149 255% 2020 3 321 129 214%
