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Platforms

Research platforms provide access to high-performance equipment or highly specialized expertise and services to Université Laval’s research community. Visit this section to see the list of those we have identified as the most relevant for neurocience research. Do not hesitate to send us your suggestions to improve our list.

Brain Bank

The Brain bank of the CERVO research centre was created in 1996 by Dr. André Parent.

This brain bank aims to help researchers study the organisation of the human brain and to better understand the causes of brain diseases in order to prevent and treat them. Over the last decades, the availability of brain tissue has been of crucial importance for the understanding of certain neurological and psychiatric diseases.  In addition, this type of material has contributed significantly to the development of new treatments which have a major impact on the quality of life of people suffering from diverse neuropsychiatric illnesses.

Go to the Brain Bank webpage at CERVO

High throughput image analysis

The mission of the high throughput image analysis platform is to perform tedious and complex analyses of images generated by research laboratory equipment using high-performance computing algorithms. In less time and money than manual analysis, our expertise proposes to analyze systematically or by machine learning the entirety of your data, without compromise, and to extract the maximum statistical power from it. Less expensive and more reliable, our analyses are accompanied by a scientific validation that enhances the credibility of the conclusions of your publications.

Go to the high throughput image analysis platform webpage (in French only) plateforme d’analyse d’images de haut débit

Molecular tools platform

The Molecular Tool Platform (MTP) is a vector core facility service localized at the CERVO Brain Research Center.

The platform provides the CERVO community and the Quebec and Canadian researchers services in gene transfer technologies, molecular biology, the generation of transgenic animals and the production of viral vectors.

MTP allows researchers to have access to consultation, technical assistance or to order a turn-key project for which our team takes care of all the steps from the draft strategy to the delivery of the finished product.

They develop, amongst others, genetic tools that allow the expression of fluorescent proteins used in imaging of the nervous system.

Visit the Molecular tools platform website

Cell Sorting Platform

The CERVO Cell Sorting Platform is specialized in sorting sub-populations of neurons or cells isolated from the neuronal system. We own a FACS Aria II which physically separates various sub-populations of an heterogenic sample. We can help you with the experimental design related to cytometry and also operate the instrument for you.

View the Cell sorting platform webpage at CERVO

Electron Microscopy Facility

The Electron Microscope Facility located at the CERVO Brain Research Centre provides advanced technical tools for transmission electron microscopy and cryofixation of biological samples. The facility offers complete processing of biological samples, including embedding and semi and ultra-thin sectioning with ultramicrotome.

iPSC Platform

The Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) platform is an initiative of Dr. Jack Puymirat. In partnership with the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), under the direction of Dr. Edward A. Fon, the platform’s objective is to provide access to these advanced technologies :

  • Cellular reprogramming (laboratory of Dr. Jack Puymirat, CHU de Québec Research Center)
  • Differentiation of hiPSCs in different neuronal types (laboratory of Dr. Thomas Durcan, MNI)
  • Genome editing using the CRISPR method (laboratory of Peter McPherson, MNI)

The iPSC Quebec and iPSC / CRISPR MNI platforms work together to provide high-quality, affordable, high-quality services to academic users both in Quebec and outside, for hiPSCs reprogramming, iPSCs differentiation into different neuronal type and CRISPR genome editing.

View the website: iPSC Québec

Movement collection and analysis platform

This collaborative platform at CIRRIS offers support to measure (in 3D) kinematics, kinetics and electromyographic activity (EMG) during body movements. This platform offers the following services:

  • Evaluation and measurement of the movements of clinical populations (adult or pediatric) with physical impairments (sensory or motor);
  • Support for basic research on motor control in individuals without physical impairments;
  • Documenting the action of technical aides (e.g., wheelchairs, walking aides);
  • Clinical evaluation of users to optimize the surgical treatment plan or other therapeutic monitoring (service offered for internal an external CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale partners);
  • Development of various standardized collection and analysis tools to optimize the treatment of biomechanical data from the lab or clinic.

Visit the website: https://www.cirris.ulaval.ca/en/our-research/research-platforms/plateforme-de-collecte-et-danalyse-du-mouvement/