IDIBELL has incorporated a new high-resolution spatial transcriptomics and proteomics platform in the Molecular Interactions laboratory of its scientific and technical services. The operation has been possible thanks to the achievement of a grant corresponding to the IFEQ22 call for Acquisition of Scientific-Technical Equipment and Infrastructure of the ISCIII.
The high-resolution spatial tanscriptomics and proteomics platform CosMx (Nanostring, supplier Longwood) allows precise visualization and quantification of the expression of RNAs and proteins with “single cell” resolution in tissue sections of different sample types. It is based on highly sensitive in situ hybridization technology with high multiplexing capacity for the study of gene and protein expression.
The new equipment will make it possible to identify and quantify biomarkers at both RNA and protein levels and be able to relate and visualize their expression at the cellular level with their spatial distribution in the histological tissue, the object of study of different diseases. This will allow the identification and localization of multiple cell types with their phenotypic and functional characteristics, as well as the associated extracellular structures and generate complete information on the tissue microenvironment.
The equipment is financed by the Carlos III Health Institute with European funds from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, with code IFEQ22/00027, financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a biomedical research center created in 2004. It is participated by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Institute of Health, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona and the City Council of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.
IDIBELL is a member of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the “HR Excellence in Research” program of the European Union and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).