Central Laboratory of High-Performance Technologies in the life sciences

Abstract

The LCTAD, Central Laboratory of High-Performance Technologies, has the mission of making advanced technologies in the areas of genomics, bioinformatics, proteomics, and cell biology available to the UNICAMP community and to those of other universities and research institutes, in order to meet the growing demand for world-class research involving sophisticated highperformance techniques. The LCTAD will feature modern facilities in a space of approximately 2000 m2 located in the UNICAMP Technology Park. The building will house laboratories with high-performance genome sequencing equipment, equipment for analyzing the mass, sequence, and interaction of proteins, image analysis equipment, and computers with high processing speeds, as well as other equipment. The LCTAD will also have an auditorium for training sessions and multidisciplinary encounters. The LCTAD is a service provider and will not develop its own lines of research. In addition to providing the venues for the activities offered, the LCTAD will coordinate the formation of a network of accredited laboratories certified to provide services to the standards of those provided by the LCTAD. These laboratories will constitute a Virtual Network of Laboratories (VNL). Any professors or researchers that have underutilized high-performance equipment in their laboratories will be able to apply for membership in the VNL. The technologies that will be made available to the academic community will focus on genomics, bioinformatics, protein analysis, and cell biology. The LCTAD will be active in specific areas of the life sciences: 1) genomics: Sanger sequencing (ABI 3730) and high-throughput sequencing (454 Illumina/Solexa), transcriptome sequencing (array and sequencing of tags); 2) high-performance bioinformatics; 3) analysis of proteins: separation of samples by high-resolution chromatography or bidimensional chromatography (gel), mass spectrometry, and evaluation of protein-binding interactions; 4) flow cytometry, confocal microscopy and microdosage. (AU)