The Advanced Light Microscopy Unit (ALMU) is a walk-in core unit on a mission to help, support and educate the research community from CRG and beyond to do quantitative bioimaging. We provide support on a range of technologies starting from experimental design, sample preparation, acquisition, bioimage analysis and visualization. Our unit consists of microscope systems specifically designed for fluorescence microscopy ranging from confocal, widefield to super-resolution systems and helps reveal structures from macro to the nanoscale.

The Bioinformatics Unit provides researchers at CRG-CNAG/PRBB and external organizations with services of consultation, planning NGS and other genomic experiments, NGS data processing, analysis and management, software and database development, bioinformatics training, and access to high-performance computing resources at CRG. The Unit works in synergy with the Genomics Unit and the Biomolecular Screening & Protein Technologies Unit (BMS-PT) to support users using high-throughput sequencing technologies from an experiment planning to delivery of timely and reliable results.

The Protein Technologies Unit provides the researchers at the CRG-CNAG/PRBB, external institutions and private companies with a new, high quality technology platform to perform protein production and automated processes in the context of biomolecular and biochemical screening assays. Through staff-assisted screening, users will have access to the equipment of the facility including liquid handlers, plate readers and the small molecule libraries. In addition, the unit is aimed at supporting the researchers of the CRG institute by purchasing, seeking and maintaining valuable stocks of clones and strains.

Flow cytometry studies optical parameters emitted by particles (cells, cell fractions). Flow cytometers can study a series of parameters of individual particles simultaneously, quickly and on a large number of individualized particles in suspension. Flow cytometers use lasers as a source of light excitement; therefore, it must be possible to mark the particles with one or more fluorescent substances. Information is also collected regarding the size and structural complexity of each particle. This multiparameter study of each particle enables us to analyse subpopulations in complex samples through electronic sorting. Some cytometers are also equipped with sorting and collection modules for particles of interest. The most important applications of flow cytometry include those relating to the study of cell surface receptors, nuclear and cytoplasmic antigens, DNA content, enzyme activity, cell integrity and membrane permeability and calcium flows. The Unit currently hosts five analyzers and two sorters, and is therewith the largest Becton Dickinson site in Spain. The sorters are operated by the facility personnel, who also support the users in experimental design and data analysis. The analyzers are operated by the users themselves, after they have been trained. The facility personnel helps with the experimental design and supervises and monitors the experiments when necessary.

The CRG Genomics Core Facility was established in 2008 and currently supports next generation sequencing technologies. Since its foundation, the CRG has made significant investments in Genomics, including the purchase of several next generation sequencing instruments. Several high-throughput technologies have been implemented to assess differential expression, inter-individual genetic variation, microRNA discovery, genome sequencing, targeted resequencing, epigenetic profiling and identification of binding sites of DNA or RNA-associated proteins.

The goal for the Tissue Engineering Platform is to provide the CRG, PRBB and external researchers with the latests technologies used in the fields of stem cell biology, stem cell differentiation, organoid formation and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The Unit is constantly setting up new technologies that are emerging in the above fields. The Tissue Engineering platform works in collaboration with the Biomolecular Screening & Protein Technologies Unit at the CRG to provide CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology service. Since 2020, the Tissue Engineering Unit also includes the Histology In-house Service (only for PRBB residents). The Histology In-house Service was established in 2007 to provide the CRG with the histopathological analysis required for analysing tissues from research performed in in vivo models. Studies involving developmental biology, tissue homeostasis and pathology, require an in depth analysis of the morphological and molecular characteristics of the tissues, and the alterations incurred by manipulation. A common tool for these studies is to generate animal models that may recapitulate a specific process or a particular disease. Subsequently, histological and immunohistological analysis are required to identify and characterize changes in the cytoarchitecture and morphology of the tissue. Immunohistochemistry is an essential tool to determine the localization of proteins and RNAs at the tissue and cellular level. In this respect, the main goal of the Histology In-house Service is to perform and optimize histological processing and analysis of the tissue, from experimental animal models and human origin. The service also provides mentoring and training in common histological techniques, in close association with the different groups at the CRG.