EMU
nCounter Pro Analysis System
Equipment that enables the analysis of gene expression targets using direct detection technology, with high sensitivity and precision. The nCounter®️ technology by NanoString is based on the direct detection of oligonucleotides using color-coded molecular barcodes, which are used to individually count each target molecule.
The equipment enables investigations of new predictive and prognostic biomarkers, evaluation of treatment response mechanisms — including those of new drugs — and biomarker monitoring in both clinical and preclinical trials. Advantages include multiplex analysis of up to 800 molecular targets using ready-to-use or customized gene expression panels.
A wide variety of biological pathways and research areas can benefit from this equipment, such as: oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, gene and cell therapy, neuroscience, among others. The nCounter®️ system is compatible with most sample types: fresh frozen tissue, blood, plasma, serum, cell lysates, including formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues stored for decades. This last feature offers a special advantage, as it allows for the analysis of clinical samples stored in biobanks for many years with high reliability.
The workflow with this system is simple and efficient: it requires only 15 minutes for most panels using an automated benchtop processing system, and the data produced is highly reproducible, with no need for amplification or technical replicates.
Operating mode: Scheduling with the responsible technician, who will provide usage instructions.
Faculty Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Carmino de Souza, Prof. Dr. José Barreto Campello Carvalheira.
Technical Supervisor: Sandra Regina Branbilla.
Scheduling via email: oncomol@unicamp.br
Equipment location: Molecular Oncology Laboratory – School of Medical Sciences – UNICAMP.
NCOUNTER PRO - AVAILABLE
SPECT/CT
EMU SPECT/CT
The equipment for the SPECT/CT system is still in the acquisition process by RIDC CancerThera. New information will be available soon on our website.
The need to evaluate biological processes non-invasively in living organisms led researchers worldwide to develop over 1,600 radiopharmaceuticals to examine various metabolic processes, such as protein synthesis, receptor and gene expression, enzyme and hormone activity, DNA replication, and especially for therapeutic applications.
Currently, there are hundreds of radiopharmaceuticals available for scintigraphic imaging using Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) after administration to patients, and many more are expected to be developed, especially as new therapeutic applications arise.
The combined use of SPECT and Computed Tomography (CT) results in the SPECT/CT system, which plays a central role in the study, research, and monitoring of multiple diseases — especially various types of cancer. Theranostic technology is constantly evolving, and the development of new radiopharmaceuticals, applications, and image processing and quantification tools continues to bring new uses in clinical practice and research, including the development of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals in Oncology.
With this equipment, researchers from various fields can study and explore the applications of new radiopharmaceuticals, as well as image quantification and processing tools in multiple diseases. The SPECT/CT system is considered the most advanced Nuclear Medicine device available in the country. It allows exams to be performed with lower radiation exposure and faster, more accurate results.
EMU PET/CT
The equipment for the PET/CT system is still in the acquisition process by RIDC CancerThera. New information will be available soon on our website.
The Positron Emission Tomography (PET) device, combined with a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner, forms the PET/CT system, which has revolutionized medical imaging diagnostics. PET/CT combines metabolic and anatomical imaging, enabling evaluation of the metabolism of various structures such as bones, muscles, brain, among others. In Oncology, PET/CT is recommended for tumor and metastasis detection.
Certain types of radioactive atoms are bound to molecules that mimic natural biological functions. This allows for non-invasive imaging exams with millimeter-level spatial resolution, enabling assessment of metabolic activity in the human body. The method contributes to studying the biology of various cancers and their comorbidities, as well as in the development of new drugs, since it allows in vivo use and evaluation. It is increasingly and widely used in clinical and preclinical research with animal models, especially in theranostic applications in Oncology.
Thanks to recent advancements in radiopharmacy, the availability of synthesizer equipment, and the incorporation of artificial intelligence and quantification methods in PET/CT equipment and procedures, the system and its data processing and analysis capabilities have become essential.
With PET/CT and the latest software tools, after developing and synthesizing their own tracers, researchers from various fields can test both preclinical and clinical applications. Additionally, they can study biological and metabolic mechanisms of various diseases, including cancer.
PET/CT
