Elveflow Microfluidic Innovation Center (ELVESYS)
ELVESYS is an innovative company who develops and provides microfluidic chips and scientific instruments for microfluidic researches, and now proposes the world widest brand of microfluidic flow control products. The second main mission of ELVESYS is to enhance the technological transfer of microfluidic innovations from research laboratories to medical diagnostic and cell biology market.
The company is equipped with a molecular biology bench (including several PCRq systems and setups), microscopy equipment, micro thermal characterization bench for temperature control experiment, electronic test bench, mechanical and electronic engineering service and facilities as well as soft lithography facilities for microfluidic device fabrication. ELVESYS also have an industrialization service for product designing, production facilities for product manufacturing and fabrication of small mechanical pieces and e-marketing services to promote their research or learn scientific marketing. ELVESYS also hosts a “scientific entrepreneurship business unit” to train young researchers to create innovative companies.
Tasks at the project:
- device design towards a point of care system and a diagnostic tool based on microfluidics
- offers non-scientific soft skills (valorisation & entrepreneurship training)
- help in project management and dissemination (website design)
Elvesys — Microfluidics innovation center: https://www.elveflow.com/
ArGenit
Argenit Smart Information Technologies (Argenit Bilgisayar Destekli Mikroskop Sistemleri Tic. Ltd. Şti) — ArGenit is an R&D company that develops and markets high end microscopic image analyzing systems. It is the main distributor of the worldwide digital camera and image analysis firms such as Mediacybernetics/USA, PixeLINK/Canada, Diagnostic Instruments/USA, Applied Spectral Imaging/ Israel, Jenoptik / Germany, Qimaging/ Canada since 1999.
Main research area of the organization is microscopic imaging and image analysis in life science. ArGenit has deep experience especially in fluorescence microscopy image analysis. Fluorescent microscopes that are needed for the project are available in the company head office in Istanbul. They are also linked to the Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Research Center), SME, Technopark of Istanbul Technical University, Turkey.
Tasks at the project:
- device design and development of microscopy analysis systems
- patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated to motor neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes
- stem cell derived cultures for modeling diseases and search for adequate phenotypes
Yedıtepe University School of Medicine (YEDITEPE)
Immunology Department is affiliated to Yeditepe University Hospital and they run all of the autoantibody tests from the patients in their laboratories. They have an experienced team of medical doctors and biologists who are dealing with different aspects of immunology. Their clinical laboratory analyses and reports all of the autoantibody tests in the hospital, which reports over 3,000 autoantibody tests per year. Most of their recent research is focused on applications of cytometry in hematology and rheumatology; and stem cell analysis.
Immunology Department has its own laboratories for autoantibody detection, HLA typing, immunophenotyping, neurology oriented testing (OCB, neoplastic panels etc.); they are equipped with flow cytometers (10 & 5 color), several microscopies (light, fluorescence, confocal, SEM), molecular testing laboratory (thermal cyclers, rt-PCR, electrophoresis apparatus, different energy sources) as well as different types of mass spectrometry systems. They have access to genetic laboratories with automated DNA/RNA isolation systems, thermal cyclers, real-time PCR, whole genome sequencing and other types of sequencers. Their latest research projects are on screening autoantibodies in neurocognitive diseases and inflammasome.
Tasks at the project:
- provides patient samples from different disease groups
- patients’ antibody testing
- standardization and method evaluation
- Good Laboratory Practice manual for the project
- links to SMEs
Neurobiology, A. I. Virtanen Institute University of Eastern Finland (UEF)
A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, part of the University of Eastern Finland – UEF in Kuopio, is a research institute addressing the global challenges of ageing, lifestyles and health by focusing on two major research areas that cause a significant burden to the healthcare system, namely cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and neurological disorders.
Institute is equipped for live cell imaging and electrophysiology with a setup consisting of a monochromatic light source and a 12-bit cooled CCD camera, supported with patch clamp system. They are also able to perform in vivo multiphoton microscopic imaging in anesthetized mice through an implanted cranial window with glass coverslip.
Tasks at the project:
- fluorescence-probe imaging of ROS signaling and electrophysiology
- expertise in iPSC characterization and applications
The National Laboratory of Nanotechnology (LANOTEC)
The National Nanotechnology Laboratory – LANOTEC is part of The National Center of High Technology (CENAT) specialized in research, design and implementation of nanotechnology-related technologies. LANOTEC focusses on the production of new nanomaterials via nanometric manipulation techniques and physical and chemical processes. It specializes on the extraction and/or synthesis of biopolymers; interactions of biomolecules and their self-assembly; production of organic and inorganic nanoparticles, encapsulation and immobilization of actives compounds.
For the project the key instruments are: Atomic Force Microscopy; working in air and liquid conditions, high resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, ultraviolet spectroscopy, and a Biological Safety Cabin Class II Type A2.
Tasks at the project:
- testing complementary to fluorescence microscopy analysis and further analysis (AFM, hrTEM, SEM)
University of Connecticut Health (UCONN)
Research in the Antic Laboratory at the Department of Neuroscience at UCONN Health is primarily directed towards understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of synaptic integration, synaptic plasticity, neuronal excitability and how dopamine modulates these fundamental processes. Their experimental methods include local and rapid application of neurotransmitters (glutamate & dopamine), electrophysiology (patch-clamp recordings), fast simultaneous multi-site imaging of the dendritic tree (calcium-sensitive dyes & voltage-sensitive dyes), calcium imaging using genetically-encoded calcium indicators, genetically-encoded voltage indicators, computer simulations, neuron tracing and immunolabeling.
UCONN research will be focused on the biophysical characterizations of the effect of IgGs on cultured astrocytes and neurons, using patch-clamp electrophysiology, calcium imaging and voltage imaging. Laboratories are equipped for preparation of solutions, cell culturing, rat and mouse brain slicing, PCR, manufacturing patch electrodes and electrophysiological and optical measurements.
Tasks at the project:
- know-how in neuronal excitability and voltage-sensitive dyes
Pediatrics, Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago (UCHIC)
Epilepsy Lab at University of Chicago is fully equipped to conduct research and investigation about neuronal networks properties from theoretical mathematical and computational approaches modeling, single neuron and local network activity both on animal models and human brain tissue with fully established patch clamp and confocal microscopy setups and expertise. Investigation of network architecture and physiological and pathological behaviours in dissociated neuronal cultures are conducted on Microelectrode Array (MEAs) setup with newly established method which enables them to manipulate the connectivity using optical stimulation with micrometer and sub-millisecond precision.
Epilepsy Lab will be responsible for the overall administration and guiding of the portion of the project focused on the electrophysiological characterizations of the effect of IgGs on network of cultured neurons planted on MEAs.
Tasks at the project:
- know-how in MEA and big data electrophysiology