Light and electron microscopy are exceedingly versatile disciplines having many applications in pharmaceutical research. Many corporate and university facilities are organized with a centralized microscopy laboratory that serves the needs of many different investigators. This is also true at the Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in East Hanover, New Jersey. A centralized microscopy laboratory is not only more efficient, but also most cost effective. The microscopy lab at Novartis is designed to meet the needs for a wide range of applications serving all of Research and Development. The lab contains seven functional areas for microscopy applications. A large preparation and processing area, necropsy, microtomy, TEM, SEM, wet and dry dark rooms, and an image analysis suite including telepathology, complete the lab.

Microscopy service is widely used in Pathology, Toxicology, Drug Discovery, Technical Research and Development, Production and Quality Assurance, and Compliance. Microscopy services have also been involved in marketing (packaging labels and commercials) for Novartis products.