Cryo-electron microscopy in 2026: overview
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) images rapidly frozen samples to determine molecular and cellular structures. By preserving specimens in a near-native state, it can reveal large, flexible assemblies that are difficult to study with other structural methods. Researchers use single-particle analysis for purified molecules and cryo-electron tomography to inspect structures in cells. The method is increasingly paired with computational tools to interpret heterogeneous structures and improve maps.
Recent work is pushing toward structures in native contexts and better capture of molecular motion. In September 2026, Yale researchers described integrating in situ single-particle cryo-EM with cryo-electron tomography. A July 2026 study introduced cryoGO for profiling endogenous cellular macromolecules, while another reported light-coupled sample preparation for time-resolved studies. Processing is also advancing: EMReady2 applies local quality-aware deep learning, and Chinese Academy of Sciences researchers developed continuous-recording beam-image-shift acquisition to reduce camera delays. Sample preparation remains a bottleneck, with recent work on automated quality control and cryo-focused ion-beam milling.
- 1Into native cells: In situ cryo-EM and tomography are connecting molecular structures to their cellular context, but specimen preparation and imaging remain demanding.
- 2Faster, more dynamic: Continuous-recording acquisition and time-resolved preparation are extending cryo-EM from static structures toward molecular events and changing states.
- 3Computational support: Deep-learning map improvement and new reconstruction methods target persistent challenges in noisy, heterogeneous data.
Top organizations working on cryo-electron microscopy
Ranked by Linknovate activity score · last 24 monthsThe activity score adds up the relevance of every patent, publication, grant and news item linking an organization to cryo-electron microscopy. Showing 7 of 2,584 organizations.
| # | Organization | Approach | Signals (24 mo) | Momentum | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS
Research · China |
Single-particle analysis | PUB 502 · NEWS 3 | +25% | Recently, affiliated researchers developed continuous-recording beam-image-shift acquisition to reduce camera delays in cryo-EM data collection, alongside structural studies of transporters and viral fusion proteins. |
| 2 | 
University of California
Research · United States |
Cryo-electron tomography | PUB 388 · NEWS 22 | +0% | Researchers across the UC system apply cryo-ET to native cellular structures, including microtubule-bound LRRK2 and HIV-1 capsids, and investigate phase-plate methods for improving tomographic imaging. |
| 3 | 
U.S. National Institutes of Health
Research · United Kingdom |
Single-particle analysis | PUB 187 · NEWS 180 | +13% | Recently, researchers associated with NIH developed a PhIX-MS and cryo-EM workflow to capture dynamic interactors at native proteasomes. NIH also supports methodological work on single-particle 3D reconstruction. |
| 4 | 
Stanford University
Research · United States |
Cryo-electron tomography | PAT 1 · PUB 155 GRANTS 1 · NEWS 75 |
+37% | Recently, cryo-ET was used to visualize thick-filament disorganization in cardiomyocytes carrying a hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy mutation. Stanford-linked work also develops neural reconstruction methods for challenging cryo-EM and cryo-ET data. |
| 5 | 
Tsinghua University
Research · China |
Cryo-electron tomography | PUB 217 · NEWS 9 | -12% | Recently, affiliated researchers optimized cryo-focused ion-beam milling and introduced a collaborative system for cryo-ET visualization and processing. Their work also spans in situ structural methods and 3D reconstruction. |
| 6 | 
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Research · China |
Single-particle analysis | PUB 251 | +11% | Recently, affiliated researchers reported cryo-EM structures of the fungal transporter Cdr1 and a baculoviral fusion protein, and developed continuous-recording beam-image-shift acquisition to speed data collection. |
| 7 | 
University of Tokyo
Research · Japan |
Single-particle analysis | PUB 191 · NEWS 8 | +7% | Recently, affiliated researchers reported a cryo-EM structure of the bicarbonate receptor GPR30 and a pipeline for high-resolution GPCR structure determination. The university’s work also resolves chromatin and membrane transporters. |
| 8 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 9 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 10 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
Startups to watch and leading research centers
Startups to watch 46 total
Altos Labs Inc.United StatesRecently, affiliated researchers compared molecular-dynamics projections with cryo-EM data to expose errors in structural predictions, including models of membrane proteins.
CryoSol WorldNetherlandsCryoSol World develops the VitroJet, which controls and measures ice thickness for cryo-EM sample preparation and aims to make single-particle structure determination more efficient.
NanographicsAustriaRecently, Nanographics co-developed CoCryoViS, a collaborative online system for cryo-ET visualization and processing, covering the workflow from tilt-series images to 3D results.- ··Hidden startupCountryAvailable to registered users, with funding and founding year.
- ··Hidden startupCountryAvailable to registered users, with funding and founding year.
Leading research institutions 2,101 total
- Chinese Academy of Sciences CASChinaRecently, affiliated researchers developed continuous-recording beam-image-shift acquisition to reduce camera delays in cryo-EM data collection, alongside structural studies of transporters and viral fusion proteins.
- University of CaliforniaUnited StatesResearchers across the UC system apply cryo-ET to native cellular structures, including microtubule-bound LRRK2 and HIV-1 capsids, and investigate phase-plate methods for improving tomographic imaging.
- U.S. National Institutes of HealthUnited KingdomRecently, researchers associated with NIH developed a PhIX-MS and cryo-EM workflow to capture dynamic interactors at native proteasomes. NIH also supports methodological work on single-particle 3D reconstruction.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
Where cryo-electron microscopy innovation happens
Share of documents with at least one organization from each country.
Open the interactive map with all 2,584 organizationsMain technical approaches
Last 24 months| Approach | What it is | Documents | Leading organizations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-particle analysis | Reconstructs structures from images of many isolated particles; it supports detailed molecular models but depends on suitable purified samples and careful control of particle orientation. | 1,155 |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, University of California, Brookhaven National Laboratory |
| Cryo-electron tomography | Combines tilted images to visualize structures in frozen cells; it preserves cellular context but often requires thinning thick specimens and resolving lower-contrast data. | 1,403 |
Tsinghua University, University of California, Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS |
| Microcrystal electron diffraction | Uses electron diffraction from small crystals to determine structures; it can work with crystals too small for conventional methods but still requires ordered crystalline samples. | 71 |
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, SLAC, Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Science |
| Helical reconstruction | Uses the repeated geometry of helical assemblies to build a structure; it is well suited to filaments but depends on regular repeating organization. | 272 |
Shanghai JiaoTong University, Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS, ShanghaiTech University |
| Two-dimensional electron crystallography | Determines structures from ordered two-dimensional crystals, often of membrane proteins; it can reveal molecular detail but requires samples to form suitable crystals. | 824 |
The Rockefeller University, U.S. National Institutes of Health, Thermo Fisher Scientific |
Emerging trends
Last 12 months vs previous 36 monthsTerms whose frequency in the last 12 months grew the most compared with the previous 36 months.
Funding and investment
Recent funding rounds
FACTS reports $458,897,383 across 499 grants since 2020. The listed funding rounds are not consistently specific to cryo-EM, so they should not be treated as dedicated field financing.
Patent landscape
Top patent holders · last 24 monthsRecent developments
Latest news, duplicates removed- Dec 2026Austin, United States, Aug. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Cryo Electron Microscopy Market Size was valued at USD 1.56 Billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 4.71 Billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 11.65%…GlobeNewswire: Market Research Reports
- Aug 2026Newswise — In late 2018, construction started on a new cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) center at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory: the Laboratory for BioMolecular Structure (LBMS).…Newswise Feature Channel: DOE Science News
- Jul 2026Newswise — The enzyme tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (TGT) chemically modifies transfer RNA (tRNA) and plays a key role in how disease-causing bacteria control the production of proteins needed to cause infection. E.…Newswise Feature Channel: Cell Biology
- Jun 2026Tohoku University solves the problem of rapidly evaporating organic solvents in sample preparation Advertisement Cryo-TEM is widely used to observe biological specimens in their native solution states and has recently…chemeurope.com News
- Month 20XXHidden developmentAvailable to registered users with alerts enabled.
Frequently asked questions about cryo-electron microscopy
What companies are working on cryo-electron microscopy?
Thermo Fisher Scientific is a named corporate supplier of electron microscopes and related cryo-EM instruments. The organization list also includes research-focused groups such as Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS and University of California, while startups include CryoSol World and Nanographics. Their work spans instrumentation, structural studies, sample preparation and cryo-ET data processing.
Which cryo-electron microscopy startups are notable in 2026?
CryoSol World and Nanographics are among the specifically described startups in the facts. CryoSol World develops the VitroJet for controlling and measuring ice thickness during sample preparation. Nanographics co-developed CoCryoViS, an online system for collaborative cryo-ET visualization and processing. These examples address practical workflow needs rather than representing a ranking of startup prospects.
Who are the main cryo-electron microscopy manufacturers or suppliers?
Thermo Fisher Scientific is the named supplier of electron microscopes and related instruments used for cryo-EM, including systems for high-resolution structural biology and cryo-electron tomography. The facts also identify it among organizations active in single-particle analysis. They do not provide a complete manufacturer ranking or enough information to compare suppliers’ product portfolios.
Which universities and research centers lead cryo-electron microscopy research?
Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS and University of California are among the leading research organizations in the facts, with 505 and 410 recent-window documents, respectively. Other active institutions include Stanford University, Tsinghua University and University of Tokyo. Their work ranges from cellular tomography and in situ methods to acquisition, reconstruction and molecular structure studies.
How much funding has cryo-electron microscopy received?
Cryo-electron microscopy has received $458,897,383 across 499 grants since 2020, according to the facts. These figures describe grant activity associated with the field. The available funding-round entries include some investments or grants whose descriptions are not clearly cryo-EM-specific, so they should not be combined with the grant total as dedicated technology funding.
Is cryo-electron microscopy patent activity growing?
No: cryo-EM patent activity fell 32.3% in the last 12 months compared with the previous 12 months, while 52 patents were recorded in the 24-month window. The patent holders with the highest listed counts include New York Structural Biology Center and FEI Company, with four each. Publication activity moved in the opposite direction, rising 24.2% year over year.
What are the latest developments in cryo-electron microscopy?
Recent developments include Yale University’s integration of in situ single-particle cryo-EM with cryo-electron tomography in September 2026, and cryoGO for profiling endogenous cellular macromolecules in July 2026. Other directions include EMReady2 deep-learning map improvement, automated sample preparation and quality control, and acquisition methods designed to reduce camera delays.
What are the main approaches in cryo-electron microscopy and how do they differ?
The five listed approaches are single-particle analysis, cryo-electron tomography, microcrystal electron diffraction, helical reconstruction and two-dimensional electron crystallography. They differ in sample form and reconstruction strategy: methods may use isolated particles, cellular tilt series, small crystals, repeating filaments or ordered two-dimensional crystals. The choice depends on the specimen and the structural question.
What are the applications of cryo-electron microscopy?
The listed applications include drug discovery and pharmacology, infectious disease research, cell biology and ultrastructure, and genetic and rare diseases. Researchers use cryo-EM to investigate molecular structures and mechanisms, from drug-relevant membrane proteins to cellular organization and disease-associated assemblies. The facts identify cell biology and ultrastructure as a growing application area, alongside work on disease and therapeutic targets.