Intro

The Laboratory of Support to Research in Molecular Medicine was created to promote the development of medical research.
With this new Laboratory, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto offers the Academy, Centro Hospitalar de São João and other health-related institutions, logistical, operational and consulting services in the context of biomedical research projects, as well as custom laboratory services, mutant and transgenic mouse models production, and scientific training.
LAIMM operates in state-of-the-art facilities equipped with high-end laboratory instrumentation located at the Centre of Medical Research of the Faculty of Medicine of Porto (CIM-FMUP), and counts on a group of qualified researchers specialised in various scientific areas.

You're invited to browse our website where you can find detailed information about LAIMM and the services provided.

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Admission

The admission process to the Essential Molecular Biology comprises an application and, upon acceptance, the registration, both conducted online only on the website of the Faculty of Medicine of Porto. There will be two calls for aplication and registration:

1^st call:
Online application: 15 September - 13 October 2016
Online registration: 3 - 30 November 2016

2^nd call:
Online application: 2 - 15 December 2016
Online registration: 5 - 15 January 2017


Instructions for the application procedure can be found here.

Forms to attach to the application / registration:

• Options of experimental focus form

Costs

Practical courses 2013 (B)

Essential molecular biology - 'hands on' laboratory course,  2nd Edition

Welcome,

The Essential Molecular Biology course covers the fundamental principles and techniques used in experimental research in the area of Molecular Biology. Essentially practical in nature, it aims at the learning of current genomic and proteomic analysis techniques, as well as the acquisition of skills in laboratory experimentation required for scientific research in biomedicine.


                                               Detailed Information



                               DEFINITIVE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
                                        Deadline extended to 17 January

                                                         ® Forms ¬



The advertisement poster of the course is available for download in a JPEG format (324 KB).


Sponsors:

We would like to thanks all the co-sponsors who supported us set up this course:   

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Seminars

Forms

Registration form

EMB

Essential Molecular Biology - A hands-on laboratory course, 10_^th Edition

Date:  23 January - 10 February 2017

This course covers the fundamental principles and techniques used in experimental research in the area of Molecular Biology. Essentially practical in nature, it aims at the learning of current genomics and proteomics techniques, as well as the acquisition of skills in laboratory experimentation required for scientific research in biomedicine.

By end of the course the participants must be able to:

·   Master the basic practices in laboratory work.
·   Carry out experimental work and interpret results proficiently and confidently in the    
    areas of genomics and proteomics.
·   Apply the acquired knowledge to the design of a laboratory experimental plan.


Programmatic content:

·   Basic laboratory practice: laboratory safety, pipetting and solution preparation.

Genomics:

·   Nucleic acids extraction (DNA, RNA) from cells, tissues or fluids
·   Quantification techniques and quality control
·   cDNA synthesis by reverse transcription (RT)
·   DNA and cDNA amplification by conventional PCR and real time PCR (qPCR)
·   Recombinant DNA techniques (enzymatic restriction, transformation, molecular cloning)
·   Gene expression studies (RT-qPCR)

Proteomics:

·   Protein extraction from cells or tissues
·   Quantification techniques
·   Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)
·   Western blotting
·   Isoelectric focusing
·   Purification by liquid chromatography
·   Protein co-immunoprecipitation

Participants will be able to focus their training on specific techniques by selecting defined topics from the programmatic content, with view to acquiring/developing good skills on those techniques that will be more useful from a professional and/or curricular standpoint.
 

Teaching methodology:

A theoretical introduction to each topic will be followed by the practical module, which will entail the demonstration of the laboratory technique followed by its practical execution by the participants. The learning process will develop through direct contact with the laboratory experimental techniques and by the systematic execution of all the essential steps conducing to the successful completion of the experiment.

Evaluation type and criteria:

The participants will be evaluated continuously through the execution of the laboratory work (85% of the final grade) and by the production of an original experimental project proposal (15% of the final grade).

Coordinator: Carlos Manuel Gomes Reguenga, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto.

Faculty: Carlos Manuel Gomes Reguenga, Filipe Almeida Monteiro, Miguel Luz Soares, António Carlos Ferreira, Ph.D.s  in the area of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto.

Target audience: Researchers, near-graduation and graduate students in the areas of Biological and Medical Sciences.

Admission criteria: Basic university training in Biological and Medical Sciences.

Dates: 23 January - 10 February 2017

Schedule: Monday to Friday - 09h00 to 18h45.

Admission:  Applications / registrations will be conducted online only, on the website of the Faculty of Medicine of Porto. Instructions for online application.

Online application:  1^st call: 15 September - 13 October 2016.
                                         2^nd call: 2 -15 December 2016.

Online registration:  1^st call: 3 -30 November 2016.
                                          2^nd call: 5- 15 January 2017.

Number of participants: 15 (max) / 6 (min).

Ranking criteria: Curricular analysis, subject of graduation, order of application. Eligibility according to the admission criteria.

Credits: 6 ECTS

Tuition fee: FMUP students and staff: 500 €; all other participants: 600 €.

Language: English / Portuguese.

Practical courses

Courses of 2 to 4 weeks in specific areas of molecular biology and developmental biology / animal models, accredited by the University of Porto.

These courses are aimed at researchers, students near graduation and graduate students.

Practical courses 2017

• Essential Molecular Biology - a hands-on laboratory course

          Date: 23 January - 10 February 2017 (10th edition)               3 - 11 July 2017 (11th edition)

• Principles of Mouse  Genetic Manipulation - a practical approach

          Contents: to be announced

          Date: to be announced
 

Microscopy / Imaging

In partnership with the Laboratory of Microscopic and Ultramicroscopic Imagiology (LIMU)

Bright field microscopy

• with image aquisition

Fluorescence microscopy

• Live cell / embryo imaging
• Time-lapse
• ApoTome optical sectioning
• Confocal microscopy

Animal Models

Production of Mutant Animals

• Genetic manipulation of the mouse (knock-out, knock-in, deletion, transgenics)

Embryo Development

• Superovulation
• Oocyte / Embryo collection
• Pre-implantation embryo culture
• Electroporation
• Uterine transfer

In Vivo Studies

• In vivo transduction
• Microdialysis
• Cystometry

Molecular Biology

Genomics

• Nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) extraction
• Amplification (conventional and real-time PCR)
• Quantification
• Detection
• Genotyping
• Cloning
• Mutagenesis
• Production of viral vectors
• Expression studies
• Methylation studies
• Chromatin immunoprecipiation

Proteomics

• Protein extraction
• Quantification
• Detection (including isoelectric focusing)
• Purification by liquid chromatography
• Co-immunoprecipiation
• Expression studies
• Prokaryotic and eukaryotic recombinant protein production

Cell and Tissue Culture

• Primary and organotypic cultures and cell lines
• Transduction
• Transfection (plasmid, siRNA ...) 
• Electroporation
• Functional studies (downregulation / overexpression / drug effects)

Assistance in experimental execution

LAIMM supports the experimental execution of any research projects that may fall within its scientific scope and are deemed feasible, regardless of having or not been involved in the conception/design of these projects. The extent of LAIMM’s participation will be defined in advance and may amount to a substantial  contribution to the execution of the experimental work stage, as well as that of data analysis and interpretation.

To this end, LAIMM offers logistic and operational support in the form of laboratory space / equipment and technical work, respectively, in addition to intellectual assistance and scientific training to the participating reseachers throughout the execution of the project. Thus, within the scope of this particular service category, LAIMM expects the active participation of at least one member of the interested research group in the execution of the several stages of the scheduled work.

Assistance in project design

This option is aimed at those groups which have biological material and/or relevant clinical data but due to a lack of available time or experience in laboratory research require support in conceiving and designing a research project. It is also available to those who already have the project concept but require assistance in designing a suitable experimental plan.

Both the conception and the design of the project – individually or together – are carried out in close partnership with the interested groups in order to tailor the project in accordance to the available material, human and financial resources, as well to as to the scientific impact of the research matter.

An essential component of these services - in line with the objectives set forth by LAIMM - is the training element, which emerges from the close working partnership throughout the process of conception and/or design of the scientific project.

Objectives

About LAIMM

The idea of a laboratory with the sole purpose of providing support to research in molecular medicine originated about ten years ago at the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology of FMUP. It was first conceived when the new facilities of the Faculty of Medicine – recently inaugurated as the Center of Medical Research (CIM-FMUP) with dedicated laboratory space for LAIMM - were being planned. The delay in bringing the project to completion, along with a high demand for assistance in the planning and execution of molecular biology work by clinical staff of the Faculty, have led to the establishment of an embryonic structure, which was able to respond to some of the requests with help of the research staff and equipment of the Cellular and Molecular Biology lab. The accomplishment of the original idea, however, was only made possible by the recent award of funds to a project aimed at enabling the post-graduate activity of FMUP to include the training of doctors and other health professionals who wish to maintain their clinical activity whilst involved in the execution of scientific work. LAIMM relies on a small group of molecular biologists fully committed to this mission, dedicated laboratory facilities equipped with high end instrumentation, as well as a series of methodologies in place at the Department of Experimental Biology and the knowhow of all its team of researchers and lecturers.

Mission statement

LAIMM's main goal is to promote and support scientific research in biomedicine, particularly by health professionals who wish to maintain their clinical activity, by providing logistical and operational assistance, scientific consulting and training in laboratory research in molecular biology. To achieve this purpose, LAIMM offers a set of services ranging from support to the design and implementation of scientific projects to the provision of custom services in molecular biology and animal models.

Objectives

• To facilitate high quality original scientific research in biomedicine with direct participation of health agents, namely physicians and other clinical professionals
• To promote and develop basic and applied scientific research in a laboratory setting.
• To support ongoing research projects by providing logistical and operational assistance, scientific advisory and training.
• To provide custom laboratory services in molecular biology and production of animal models.

Who is it for?

• Clinical and research staff of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto / Centro Hospitalar de São João and affiliated entities.
• Research groups from other academic institutions or research institutes.
• Clinical service companies / medical and pharmaceutical industry.

Services

Internal

Support to scientific research

• Project design

• Experimental execution

  • Design implementation
  • Data analysis

Internal and External

Laboratory services

• Molecular Biology

  • Genomics
  • Proteomics
  • Cell and tissue culture

• Animal Models and Development / In Vivo Studies

  • Pre-implantation development
  • Generation of mutant mice (knock-out, knock-in, deletion, transgenics)
  • In vivo viral transduction
  • Microdialysis
  • Cystrometry

• Microscopy / Imaging (in partnership with LIMU)

  • Bright field microscopy
  • Fluorescence microscopy (ApoTome, confocal)
  • Live cell / embryo imaging

Prices

To learn about the costs of services of genomics or proteomics analyses, production of and studies with animal models, and microscopic analyses, please contact us.
Given the specificity of each study / project, with unique qualitative and quantitative requirements, costs will vary and a custom quote will be provided.