CERCA FACILITIES

DIBELL has incorporated a new high-resolution spatial transcriptomics and proteomics platform in the Molecular Interactions laboratory of its scientific and technical services. The operation has been possible thanks to the achievement of a grant corresponding to the IFEQ22 call for Acquisition of Scientific-Technical Equipment and Infrastructure of the ISCIII. The high-resolution spatial tanscriptomics and proteomics platform CosMx (Nanostring, supplier Longwood) allows precise visualization and quantification of the expression of RNAs and proteins with “single cell” resolution in tissue sections of different sample types. It is based on highly sensitive in situ hybridization technology with high multiplexing capacity for the study of gene and protein expression.

A new STORM service is now available for the entire scientific community at the Microscopy Characterization Facility of Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC). The STORM (Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy) technique is a powerful super-resolution microscopy method that allows researchers to achieve high-resolution images by sequentially activating and localizing photoswitchable fluorophores. It’s particularly useful for visualizing structures at the nanoscale.

In March 2023, the Scientific Technical Services of IDIBELL incorporated a new cell sorter into their Flow Cytometry platform. This is the CytoFLEX SRT model from Beckman Coulter, a benchtop device equipped with 4 lasers and 15 fluorescence detectors. In June, the installation was completed with the arrival of the thermostatic bath and the biosafety cabinet type 2. This crucial addition enables the performance of biological assays that require a high level of biosafety, as well as the handling of samples at physiological or cold temperatures for optimal preservation. The arrival of this new cell sorter represents a significant advancement for the scientific community at the Bellvitge campus, improving the quality of results and expanding the available applications.