Life Sciences Platform

The Scientific and Technological Platforms are open and inclusive research laboratories, in which advanced instrumentation and specialist expertise of different research bodies and centres are integrated into a system to provide knowledge and services aimed at carrying out experimental testing and applied and industrial research projects.

The Life Sciences Platform offers researchers and businesses a system of expertise and facilities dedicated to structural, cellular and molecular biology, biophysics and microscopy, utilising biochemical and biophysical imaging and characterisation techniques, with applications in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, nutraceutical and diagnostics sectors.

Instrumentation and advanced expertise are provided to researchers and companies by Area Science Park, ICGEB, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, CNR-IOM and CNR-IC.

Laboratories and principal applications 

The Life Sciences Platform integrates and provides instrumentation and specialist expertise of the member institutes and labs, and specifically: 

• Genomics and Epigenomics Laboratory (LAGE) – Area Science Park;
• International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology – ICGEB
• Elettra synchrotron light source and FERMI free electron laser – Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste; 
• Structural biology laboratory, infrared spectroscopy – Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste;  
• Nanotechnology laboratory – Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste;
• Microscopy, microfluidics, micro and nanofabrication and mechanobiology laboratories – CNR-IOM;
• Structural Biology Laboratory – CNR-IC;
• ORFEO datacenter (LADE) – Area Science Park. 

The Life Sciences Platform is available to all companies and developers of new products in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, nutraceutical and diagnostics fields. It is possible to carry out studies at the molecular level, examining individual cells and organoids, to test the biological activity of new molecules and formulations, and diagnostic and prosthetic devices.

Key activities possible using instrumentation of the Life Sciences Platform include: 

• atomic resolution of molecular structure;
• measurement of molecular affinity;
• study of biological activity at cellular level;
• screening of new biologically active formulations (such as drugs or nutraceutical products);
• measurement of cell-cell and cell-substrate interaction forces;
• measurement and analysis of biomechanical profiles of cells and tissues;
• development of substrates and scaffolds for cellular growth and differentiation;
• development of organoid systems;
• study of interaction between nanoparticles, nanostructures, viruses and bacteria with cells and tissues using cryogenic electron microscopy;
• study of proteins and protein complexes involved in fundamental cell mechanisms and useful for the formulation of new drugs;
• study of the morphology of microorganisms, cells and tissues, to obtain information about proteins, fats, carbohydrates and nucleic acids with micrometre and nanometre resolution;
• study of biological tissues and organs in animal models with 3D imaging (in vivo and ex vivo) and submicrometre resolutions, to understand morphological variations in different pathological conditions;
• development and optimisation of miniaturised sensors at nano-micrometre scale for real-time analysis of biomarkers (proteins, miRNA, exosomes);
• design and prototyping of diagnostics equipment. 

Available technology