Winners Announced: ANGMA 2025 Microscopy Image Competition
The Australasian Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association (ANGMA) is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 Microscopy Image Competition, which celebrated the intersection of scientific excellence and visual artistry in the field of neurogastroenterology.
ANGMA received a stunning array of entries capturing the vibrant and intricate cellular networks that power digestive function. After careful consideration, the judging panel is pleased to congratulate the following winners:
🥇 First Prize – $500
Cherish Han
Title: Neuro-glia lacework
A breathtaking fluorescent image of the mouse colon myenteric plexus, showing Hu+ enteric neurons (red) and S100β+ enteric glia (green). The image reveals a delicate, lace-like network that orchestrates gut motility and reflexes; a true visualisation of the harmony between neurons and glia in the enteric nervous system.
🥈 Second Prize – $300
Jennifer Tang
Title: Plexitis in inflamed colon
This striking immunofluorescence image captures the inflammatory response within the myenteric plexus of a mouse with colitis. IBA+ macrophages (cyan) infiltrate GFAP+ ganglia (green), with Ki67 (red) highlighting active proliferation. The image powerfully illustrates the immune system’s interaction with the enteric nervous system during gut inflammation.
🥉 Third Prize – $200
Klaas Van Mechelen
Title: Wired for Digestion: the Enteric Nervous System in Bloom
A confocal Z-stack from a young mouse colon (P21) reveals the enteric nervous system in full bloom. With fluorescent markers for neurons (HuCD), glia (Sox10), and GCaMP3 highlighting live circuitry, this vibrant image captures the complexity and beauty of a gut wired for life and digestion.
ANGMA extends sincere thanks to all who participated. We look forward to continuing this tradition in future competitions as we highlight the groundbreaking research happening across our community.
Stay tuned for more ANGMA initiatives, and congratulations once again to our 2025 winners!