Our Lab uses the state-of-the-art equipment of the UCY Medical School, as well as modern dedicated equipment for our Lab's research applications.
The Lab has the capacity to do research in vitro and in vivo, using mammalian cell lines, bacteria, rodents and zebrafish. 
Contents Presented Below
  • Lab's Research Expertise and Capacity
  • Examples of Lab's equipment
Research expertise & capacity

  • Use of a diverse compound library with experimental compounds, clinical drugs and natural extracts (>800 compounds).
  • Use of a diverse bank of healthy mammalian cell lines, cancer cell lines and bacterial species. 
  • Application of High-Throughput Screenings (1536-well plate format capacity) ​in various detection modes (absorbance, luminescence,  fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, fluorescence polarisation, FRET, TR-FRET, Alpha, BRET).
  • Operation of assays in various formats (ELISA, AlphaScreen, HTRF).​
  • Application of various assays and assessment of various endpoints in mammalian cells (cell viability, colony formation, proliferation, metabolic activity, oxidative stress, protein mass, ATP assay, apoptosis/necrosis, cytostasis, DNA damage, invasion/migration, antioxidant efficacy, BBB pass simulation, stress response, enzyme kinetics).
  • Application of a portfolio of optimised in vitro bacterial assays (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 endpoints in bacterial cells, such as: 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 characterisation of the interaction of compounds with their targets (affinity, efficacy, potency).
  • DNA handling (extraction/isolation, cloning/transfection, DNA amplification, plasmid manipulation).
  • Application of in vitro toxicological analysis (LD50, toxicokinetics)
  • Application of in vivo toxicological studies in Zebrafish eggs, larvae and young fish (LD50, toxicokinetics, fixed-dose procedure, up-down procedure, repeated dosing, subchronic & chronic toxicity, one-generation & two-generation reproduction toxicity, neurotoxicity, developmental toxicity)
  • Rodent (mice & rats) behavioural and locomotor analysis in a fully-controlled recordable environment. 
  • Application of 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)
Main 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 

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"..I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but never with a view to injury and wrong-doing. Neither will I administer a poison to anybody when asked to do so, nor will I suggest such a course. (..). But I will keep pure and holy both my life and my art. I will not use the knife, not even, verily, on sufferers from stone but I will give place to such as are craftsmen therein.."                          
​​Hippocratic Oath, 5th cent. BC, Ancient Greece

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