The Microarray Center aims to provide comprehensive, high quality and reliable microarray analysis services for academic and private sector scientists alike. Equipped with a wide range of state-of-the-art technology platforms, the facility offers expertise and know-how in molecular and cell biology, biostatistics and bioinformatics.
Microarray Center
The Microarray Center was created in 2002 as a part of the former laboratory of molecular biology, genomics and modelling (LBMAGM). The laboratory is autonomous since September 2007 and is now integrated into the Technology Department/Luxembourg Biomedical Research Resources (LBR2) of CRP-Santé. The facility actively collaborates with many national and foreign institutions to advance genomics research in areas as diverse as health, food tracing and environmental issues (www.microarray.lu and www.bioinformatics.lu ).
Microarray Center & Media
The goal of the Microarray Center is to partner all stages of genomics research projects, including:
- Assistance for experiment design,
- Extraction, quality control and processing of DNA and RNA samples,
- Custom microarray development including the design of oligonucleotide probes,
- Microarray manufacturing. Besides traditional DNA- and oligonucleotide-based microarrays, protein arrays can also be produced using purified proteins or antibodies, as well as tissue and cell microarrays using tissue/cell paraffin blocks,
- Microarray processing and analysis. Whole-genome expression profiling experiments, as well as comparative genomic analysis (aCGH) can be conducted in a large set of organisms using major commercial microarray platforms (Affymetrix & Agilent),
- In-depth analysis and interpretation of microarray data,
- Assistance in publication writing.
The Microarray Center currently participates as a contracting partner in numerous projects developed by scientists from CRP-Santé and other institutions, and carries out independent research in genomics and bioinformatics.
Microarray Center offers a full range of integrated services for genomics studies that can be specifically tailored to users’ needs, including:
- DNA/RNA extraction, quality control and processing
- Expression profiling (genes, exons, miRNAs) using major whole-genome commercial microarray platforms (Affymetrix & Agilent) available for a large set of organisms
- aCGH analysis using Agilent microarrays
- Production of cell/tissue microarrays
- Custom microarray design and production (DNA-, oligonucleotide- or protein-based)
- Microarray data processing (quality control, normalisation, extraction of meaningful data) through in-depth biostatistical analysis
- Data exploration and interpretation using advanced bioinformatics tools and databases
Additional microarray applications may be implemented locally on user’s demand. Microarray Center also provides assistance for experiment design and scientific documentation writing (project proposals, publications).
All analyses run at Microarray Center are carried out according to state-of-the-art standard operational procedures which comply with international guidelines.
Major equipment
Microarray Center has a full set of state-of-the-art, high-performance instruments allowing the handling, the preparation and the analysis of large series of samples, as well as the production of custom microarrays. With these equipments, the platform has a high flexibility, so that it can offer fully customized solution regarding the needs of users.
- Affymetrix GeneChip system (hybridization oven, fluidic station and GeneChip scanner 3000 with autoloader for 48 arrays)
- Agilent microarray system (hybridization oven, high-resolution microarray scanner)
- Axon Genepix 4000B microarray scanner
- Slidebooster 800 microarray hybridization station and Advawash microarray washing station (Advalytix)
- Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer
- NanoDrop ND-100 spectrophotometer
- High-precision robotic microarrayer Microgrid II (Genomic solutions)
- Hamilton MicroLab Star liquid handling robot system
Software
Microarray Center uses high-level computational and statistical techniques for in-depth analysis and interpretation of microarray datasets. Several specialised and high-performance software are available including:
- For microarray image analysis : Axon Genepix Pro, Affymetrix GeneChip Commande Console, Agilent Feature extraction, Agilent DNA Workbench
- For Microarray data quality control, data analysis, annotation and visualisation : Axon Acuity, Partek Genomics Suite, R and Bioconductor algorithms
- For data mining : Ingenuity Pathway analysis, Explain analysis system, SRS, Emboss
- For data storage : BASE
Training
Microarray Center provides users with trainings covering all aspects of microarray work and use of databases and analysis software. Training sessions are organized on request.
In addition, Microarray Center actively participates in the training of master and doctoral fellows.
How to access the Microarray Center ?
The Microarray Center at the CRP-Santé is accessible to academic and private sector scientists alike. Joining collaborative research projects is the preferred way of working at Microarray Center, but the facility can also operate in a fee-for-service mode.
Microarray Center presentation
Head of Laboratory :
GSM : +352 621340705
Phone : +352 26970-281
Fax : +352 26970-390
Email : laurent.vallar@crp-sante.lu
Current Team Members :
Function : Technician
Phone : +352 26970-280
Fax : +352 26970-390
Email : francois.bernardin@crp-sante.lu
Function : Bioinformatician
Phone : +352 26970-284
Fax : +352 26970-390
Email : tony.kaoma@crp-sante.lu
Function : Bioinformatician
Phone : +352 26970-283
Fax : +352 26970-390
Email : arnaud.muller@crp-sante.lu
Function : Research Engineer
Phone : +352 26970-282
Fax : +352 26970-390
Email : nathalie.nicot@crp-sante.lu
Function : PhD Student
Email : gina.youcef@crp-sante.lu
