Databases of food composition and consumption The food composition database contains composition data for 41 nutrient factors for approximately 1000 foods, including manufactured products, composite dishes and nutritional supplements. Food composition databases contain extensive information on food and nutrient intake, nutrient status, health indicators, lifestyle and determinants of food choice in Irish population groups. |
Human dietary intervention studies Dedicated facility for subject recruitment, screening, taking dietary assessment and body composition analysis. Supports human nutrition research studies. |
Biochemical and nutritional analysis Various types of spectroscopy (including mass spectroscopy), various types of chromatography (some linked to mass spectrometry), microscopy, radiation counting, ELISA, molecular biology. |
Tissue culture unit and cell based assays Cell based assays allow researchers to examine cellular processes at the molecular level, something that is not always possible in vivo. Cell based assays are an important indicator of toxicity and effectiveness of potential functional compounds. New developments in cell based assay technology allow researchers to more closely approximate in vivo conditions. |
Bioassay platforms Cell-based in vitro bioassays to screen potential functional components for activity relating to adiposity, satiety/glycaemia, muscle structure/function/brain activity, infection and immune function. |
High-throughput robotics Based on a Genetix QPIXII XT colony picking robot (4500 colonies/hour); MWG/Aviso Theonyx liquid handling robot; Cytomat incubator (mixed gas and temp controlled); synergy plate reader (GFP, mCherry). |
Imaging and flow cytometry 2D and 3D Xenogen in vivo imaging system (IVIS); Zeiss LSM5 Excite confocal microscope; BX51 fluorescent microscope; in cell analyser for high content analysis; Accuri C6 4-coour bench-top flow cytometer. |
BIOIT Various 'omics' analyses and associated bioinformatics; global gene expression (transcriptomics, microarrays); standardised microarray procedures (2x11k and 4x44k); multispecies bifidobacterial arrays: Helicobacter pylori, Lactobacillus salivariu, Lactococcus lactis; array-based techniques; expression analysis; genomic content (CGH); genome sequencing; assemble, annotation (ERGO platform) and comparative analysis; identifying relevant biological processes (e.g. metabolic pathways); statistics, clustering and visualisation. |
Animal models Animal models (including germ-free animals) targeted at obesity and metabolic syndrome, gut health, immunity and cognitive function. |
GMP State of the art GMP manufacturing facility with fermentation (300L), harvesting, concentration, freeze-drying and sterile packaging. |
