Mojca Strazisar

Research Mojca Strazisar

Research team

Neuromics Support Facility (NSF). 01/01/2022 - 31/12/2026

Abstract

The primary mission of the Neuromics Support Facility (NSF) is to provide technological support and services in its core fields of expertise: long- and short-read sequencing, optionally followed by streamlined data analysis. Subsidised as a UA Core Facility since 2007 with the initial assignment of providing high quality Sanger sequencing services, NSF has since evolved into a much needed center of competence, offering affordable support with cutting-edge genomic technology. Since its inception, NSF has provided support to over 40 different UA groups and collaborated with over 230 research groups and companies. Embedded in the Center for Molecular Neurology (CMN) and affiliated with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences (UA) and VIB, NSF is optimally positioned to offer support in life science research, and understands and caters to the needs of diverse research groups. NSF was established in 2017 by merging the Genetics Support Facility (GSF) with central support in data analysis and imaging, to centralise the existing expertise. In 2017, NSF also expanded its services and is now supporting a variety of sought-after, wet- and dry- lab applications, including sequencing, quality control, sample prep, library prep and data analysis, using standardised in-house analytical pipelines. As a UA Core Facility, NSF will continue to provide extensive expertise to the researchers across UA, VIB and third party collaborators and will continue collaborating, consulting and troubleshooting in all their proficiencies for a very affordable fee for UA affiliates.

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  • Research Project

Functional validation of miRNA variants related to mature miRNA expression levels. 01/02/2013 - 31/12/2013

Abstract

MicroRNAs are one of major mRNA gene expression regulators involved in major cellular processes such as apoptosis, cellular differentiation and cell cycle regulation, but even so, regulation of processes in specific cell types, such as synaptic transmission and synaptogenesis. Changes in miRNA function or expression impact the regulatory ability of miRNAs and lead to the deregulation of mRNA genes important in normal function. Variants located in/or close to the mature miRNA can affect processing of miRNA due to changed secondary transcript structure and/or target selection due to the changes in the seed region. With this project we propose the functional validation of 5 recently identified miRNA variants in 5 distinct miRNA genes using a previously established platform employing SH-SY5Y cells as neuronal model. The miRNA variants were identified by mutation screening using multiplex PCR based, massively parallel sequencing of 66 brain expressed miRNA genes in 1128 psychiatric patients and 1140 controls. The 5 miRNA variants were selected based on a higher frequency in patients as well as predictions based effect on secondary structure of the miRNA transcript. With this project we will be able to investigate the importance of the identified variants in miRNA maturation and at the same time will allow further validation of the established platform for functional analysis of miRNA variants.

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    • Research Project

    Neuromics Support Facility. 01/01/2007 - 31/12/2021

    Abstract

    The Genetic Service Facility (GSF) is a central core facility in the VIB Department of Molecular Genetics that offers its researchers via a robotic platform different genetic analyses such as DNA/RNA extractions, DNA sequencing, SNP genotyping and genome-wide STR linkage analyses. Hereto, the GSF is equipped with 1 Biomek FX and 2 Biomek NX robot platforms (Beckman) for automatic pre- and post processing of samples, three 3730XL capillary sequencers (Applied Biosystems) for DNA sequencing and STR genotyping, a SEQUENOM platform for high-throughput mass array spectrometric SNP genotyping. More recently, the GSF has also acquired an ABI5500xl SOLiD for high-throughput next generation sequencing within divers applications. Also the isolation of DNA and RNA from various sources is centralized in the GSF using Magtration System8Lx and Magtration 12GCplus systems as well as the production of EBV transformed lymphoblast cell lines. With an optimized database system LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) and the use of Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN) in a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) environment the majority of data processing is performed automatically and in optimal conditions. Because of the recognition by the University of Antwerp and the VIB of the GSF as a centralized core facility, their scientists can now make use of the genetic and genomic services at marginal cost.

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    • Research Project