Dear microscopists, please note that the Research Support Services have done their *annual update of the FEC rates *for facility usage, effective from 1st of February 2014. These are the rates to be used on grant applications, calculated from the full running costs, divided by the hours of usage for each microscope category. Because these rates are based on future estimates, the actual, current charge-out rates might slightly vary, and with good usage hopefully be lower. The current charging rates will be calculated now and updated on 1st of April. *Important*: The calculation is obvious, costs divided by hours, so the more you use the microscopes, the cheaper they get! We don't make any profit, and we'd very much prefer the microscopes used by twice as many users for half the rate than the other way round. The more they are used, the more great science is done for lower costs, with good usage rates will go down, it has happened several times in the past. So don't try to save money in the wrong place, make the best of the excellent equipment and hopefully similar support (if there is something we can improve, please let us know!). And please get in touch if you need any help with your grant applications. We are very happy to advice on any microscopy-related issues, fill in technical parts, sample preparation, data analysis etc. A detailed project plan can only help with your success rate. All the information about grant applications and costings can be found on the Research Support Services on their website <http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/researchsupport/costingandpricing/costing#researchfacilities>. Hourly rates for FILM usage are published in the document <Charge Out List Publication.pdf <https://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/researchservices/Internal/Charge%20Out%20List%20Publication.pdf>>. Good imaging, Martin -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Martin Spitaler, PhD* *FILM - Facility for Imaging by Light Microscopy* - Facility Manager - Sir Alexander Fleming Building, desk 401 Imperial College London / South Kensington Exhibition Road London SW7 2AZ UK Tel. +44-(0)20-759-42023 E-mail m.spitaler@imperial.ac.uk <mailto:m.spitaler@imperial.ac.uk> Website: http://imperial.ac.uk/imagingfacility