Capacity & Equipment
Our Lab uses state-of-the-art dedicated equipment at the UCY Medical School for our research activities. The Lab has the technical capacity to do research in areas of in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, in various models and systems.
The core of our expertise is on drug discovery & repurposing and pharmacological profiling using high-throughput drug screening methods for screening a wide drug library with novel and clinical drugs against various assays and models.

Have a look at our current work and projects here. 
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Research capacity

  • A diverse compound library with experimental compounds, clinical drugs and natural extracts (>800 compounds).
  • A diverse bank of healthy mammalian cell lines, cancer cell lines and bacterial species. 
  • Application of High-Throughput Screenings (up to a 1536-well plate format) ​in various detection modes (absorbance, luminescence,  fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, fluorescence polarisation, FRET, TR-FRET, Alpha, BRET) for various formats (ELISA, AlphaScreen, HTRF).​
  • A portfolio of various in vitro assays in mammalian cells (cell viability, colony formation, proliferation, metabolic activity, oxidative stress, protein mass, ATP, apoptosis/necrosis, cytostasis, DNA damage, invasion/migration, antioxidant efficacy, enzyme kinetics).
  • A portfolio of various in vitro assays in bacteria (microplate growth inhibition, resazurin turbidometry, agar disk-diffusion, time-kill kinetics, agar dilution, live/dead stain, bacterial membrane stability, mammalian cell infection, kinetic dose accumulation, agar colony forming, multi-drug resistance, persistent population growth).
  • Assessment of various pharmacological endpoints in bacteria: Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Inhibitory potency (IC50), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), Spectrum efficacy (SE), Time-Dependence Activity profile (TDA), Dose-Accumulation Activity profile (DAA), Bacteriostatic activity profile (BA), Metabolic activity profile (MA).
  • Pharmacological profiling in vitro against targets (target affinity, efficacy, potency, selectivity/specificity, allosteric agonism, enzyme inhibition/activation, pathway activation, target kinetics, receptor modelling).
  • Assessment of various in vivo toxicological methods in Zebrafish eggs, larvae and adult fish (fixed-dose, repeated dosing, dose-escalation, subchronic & chronic toxicity testing, up-down toxicity testing, toxicokinetics, one/two-generation reproduction toxicity, neurotoxicity, developmental toxicity), in a variety of safety pharmacology observations (whole-body assessment, spinal cord curvature, behavioural & neurological assessment, motor activity, sensory/reflex responses, cardiovascular function, major organ size/morphology, hatching rate/efficiency) for various toxicological endpoints (LD50, NOAEL/LOAEL, BMD10, MTD).​
  • Assessment of rodent (mice & rats) behavioural and locomotor analysis in a fully-controlled recordable environment (Multi-Conditioning System) using various paradigms in rodent modelling (open-field activity/locomotion, fear conditioning, active avoidance, passive avoidance, panic response, light/dark test, latent inhibition, learned helplessness, place preference).
Lab Equipment
Multimodal plate reader for High-Throughput Screening
(Tecan Spark 20M)
Description: The most advanced and sensitive plate reader available today. With Fusion Optics (filters with a high-speed QuadX double-monochromator system) for sensitivity & reduced data variability. Up to a 1536-well format screenings, with two injectors for automated dispensing, automated Z-focusing, Optimal-Read function, bottom & top reading, high-density 3D well scanning, automated incubator for live readings, microscope-integrated automated cell counting & cell viability assessment, lid lifter, temperature & gas control. 
Applications: Drug screenings using absorbance, luminescence, fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, fluorescence polarisation, FRET, TR-FRET, AlphaScreen, BRET, DLR, HTRF, ELISA, for any biological and pharmacological assay with detection endpoints
Fluorescent Imager
(Thermo Fisher EVOS Floid station)
Description: A high-quality LED imaging station that doesn't need a dark room, with 3-colour fluorescent channels plus white light, a 15-inch high-resolution screen with 400x zoom, a 20x fixed fluorite objective, USB compatibility and network capacity.  
Applications: Imaging cells & tissue for various probing assays
Real-Time PCR  
​(Bio-Rad CFX96 Touch)
Description: A powerful, precise and flexible RT-PCR detection system, with six channels (5 one-colour and 1 FRET), advanced optics, data analysis tools & LCD touch screen.
Applications: Real-time quantified DNA amplification & cloning
Automated cell counter
(Life Technologies Countess II)

​Description: A bench-top assay platform equipped with sensitive optics, auto-focus, image analysis software and USB compatibility.
Applications: Cell counting and cell viability

Automated tissue-culture CO2 incubator
(Panasonic Cell IQ)
Description: A copper-enriched stainless steel and fully automated CO2 incubator with Humidity Management System, Direct-Heat and Air-Jacket system, dual detector infrared sensor, UV decontamination,  alarm, LCD screen with charted logs & USB.
Applications: Efficient cell/tissue growth and management
Nano spectrophotometer
​​(Implen NP80)
Description: A lightweight benchtop spectrophotometer with Sample Compression Technology for precise measurement of microvolumes (>0.3μL), with built-in 7'' LCD touchscreen, built-in vortex for sample uniformity, full scan capacity in 3 sec, 32GB data storage, USB/WiFi compatibility and Sample Control .
Applications: Quantification of DNA/RNA, protein & cell solutions
Zebrafish breeding system
​​(Aquatic Solutions ZebTEC Active Blue)
Description: An automated and stand-alone zebrafish breeding system with Active Blue self-cleaning and filtration system, automated control and monitoring of temperature, pH, salinity, acidity for consistent water quality and optimal fish welfare. Easy to use, flexible and robust system for maintaining a colony of zebrafish. With variable sizes tanks, integrated biofiltration, large LCD touchscreen, alarm, multiple control options and integrated dialer for SMS-notification for extra security. 
Applications: Breeding and maintaining a zebrafish colony
Gel Electrophoresis imager 
(Vilber Fusion Solo S)
Description: A highly-sensitive gel imager, with a compact dark room, scientific-grade camera & lens (fluorescence & UV) for quality images, industry-standard sensitivity and analysis software. 
Applications: Gel imaging and band image analysis
Thermal Cycler
​(Bio-Rad C1000 Touch)
 Description: A superior thermal cycler with large colour display touch screen, adjustable lid for various plates, protocol autowriter and editor for automated customisation and USB compatibility
Applications: DNA amplification & cloning
Live cell culture monitoring
(CytoSMART Lux2)
Description: A compact mini-inverted microscope for bright-field live cell imaging, used inside an incubator for live cell culture monitoring. With timer-image capture and image analysis software for determination of confluency.
Applications: Monitoring and documenting the growth of cells
Inverted light microscope
(Motic AE 2000)
Description: An inverted binocular microscope with Colour Corrected Infinity Optical System, with 5x/10x/20x/40x objectives, bright field and contrast phase lenses, Auto Cut-Off sleep mode, Z-axis movement, fine focusing system with tension adjustment, intensity control and Wi-Fi connected camera.
Applications: Routine inspection of cells/tissue
Nano fluorometer
​(Invitrogen Qubit 4)
Description: A light benchtop and highly sensitive fluorometer, with an 5.7'' LCD touchscreen, rapid analysis (<3 sec/sample), nano sample need (<1μL), storage of 1000 sample tests, compatible with RNA IQ assay for distinguishing viable from degradable RNA
Applications: Measurement of DNA, RNA and protein
Rodent behavioural monitoring system 
​(TSE Multi-Conditioning System)
Description: An advanced modular system for automated behavioural monitoring of mice & rats. With temperature, light and sound-insulated chamber, 3D infra-red beam detection system, sound/light stimulation system, video monitoring and behavioural analysis software. Different arenas for various behavioural paradigms such as, Fear Conditioning, Panic Response, Active/Passive Avoidance, Learned Helplessness, Conditioned Place Preference, Latent Inhibition, Light/Dark Test and Open Field Locomotor Activity.
Applications: Behavioural & neurological conditions (Azheimer's, PTSD, addiction, depression, anxiety, fear, learning deficiency, neurodegeneration), toxicology & phenotyping 

Visit us
Directions:
Shacolas Educational Centre for Clinical Medicine,
At the Leroy Roundabout in Strovolos,
Behind the Nicosia General Hospital, 
Next to the Karaiskakio Foundation.

For contact details click here.

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