Cellular and molecular biology facility at the Biology Institute - UNICAMP

• Grant number: 13/50615-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2014
• End date: September 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Cytology and Cell Biology
• Agreement: FINEP - CT - Infra
• Principal Investigator: Helena Coutinho Franco de Oliveira
• Grantee: Helena Coutinho Franco de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This is a proposal to set up a facility in Cell and Molecular Biology at the Biology Institute, State University of Campinas (Unicamp). Most equipment's required will provide high technology to obtain high resolution images associated with data acquisition from a large number of biological phenomena in real time on a straight-through-processing basis. In response to the FINEP call, we request an ImageXpress Micro Widefield High Content Screening System. In response to the FAPESP counterpart, we request an upgrade for the ImageXpress system, a microplate washer, a multi-mode microplate detection platform, a laboratory automated workstation, a laboratory automated extractor and a size meter for dispersed particles and molecules. The general objective is to stimulate most of research lines developed in the Biology field at Unicamp. The specific objectives include expanding the Initiative of several researchers from the Biology Institute and School of Medical Sciences in ' building a core facility to speed up the research on Diabetes and Obesity. The groups that work in this theme were successful in obtaining grants to built an 3 floor building (Diabetes and Obesity Laboratory, FINEP/Unicamp) a National Institute for the study of Diabetes and Obesity (INCT/CNPq/Fapesp, 2009-2013) and a Research Center on Obesity and Co-morbidities (CEPID-Fapesp 2013-2017). Their scientific aims are to build basic knowledge regarding the physiopathology of obesity and its co-morbidities (insulin resistance, diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, cancer; renal complications), identify putative therapeutical targets and drugs that can be translated into benefits to the society in terms of treatments, prevention and educational programs. In summary, the proposal aims are: 1) expand the infrastructure of the Diabetes and Obesity Laboratory, 2) expand the investigations possibilities in cell and molecular biology using frontier technology, 3) provide this technological infrastructure to other users from Unicamp, and other public universities, 4) provide conceptual and technical support and 5) facilitate the development of multidisciplinary research. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ASSIS, LEANDRO HENRIQUE DE PAULA; DORIGHELLO, GABRIEL DE GABRIEL; RENTZ, THIAGO; SOUZA, JANE CRISTINA DE; VERCESI, ANIBAL EUGENIO; DE OLIVEIRA, HELENA COUTINHO FRANCO. In Vivo Pravastatin Treatment Reverses Hypercholesterolemia Induced Mitochondria-Associated Membranes Contact Sites, Foam Cell Formation, and Phagocytosis in Macrophages. FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES, v. 9, p. 17-pg., 2022-03-15. (17/03402-3, 17/17728-8, 17/02903-9, 13/50615-1)

ASSIS, LEANDRO HENRIQUE DE PAULA; DORIGHELLO, GABRIEL DE GABRIEL; DE OLIVEIRA, HELENA COUTINHO FRANCO. Pro-inflammatory polarization of macrophages is associated with reduced endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria interaction. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, v. 606, p. 7-pg., 2022-05-28. (13/50615-1, 17/17728-8, 17/02903-9, 17/03402-3)