VIB Core Facilities: Technology Suites for Better Science

Science and technology are inextricably intertwined with one another. The use of new technologies often leads to breakthroughs in scientific research. With our core and service facilities and the ‘Technology Watch' program, we ensure that our scientists constantly have a wide range of state-of-the-art technologies at their disposal. Researchers can outsource part of their research project, for which they require a specific technology or expertise, to such a specialized facility.

The importance of a ‘multi-omics’ approach

The new technology ‘wave’ has enabled the modern life scientist to create biological building blocks and networks based on his own research domain. These then, in turn, form the basis for charting interaction on the level of the genome, transcriptome, proteome and even metabolome. For these reasons, we genuinely believe in an integrated approach to the various ‘omics’ domains. This approach opens up perspectives in order to gain more focused insights into the molecular blueprint of many development and disease processes. This, however, requires a techno-scientific expertise that is impossible to create within one research group.

We have recognized this trend and, in 2014, made substantial investments in embedding high-tech platforms in our institutional core and service facilities. In consultation with our Technology Watch team and some of the departments, we have implemented several leading edge technology platforms.

Rewarded with stars

An international advisory council reviewed VIB's core facilities in 2014 and awarded a 'three star' quotation. Our equipment combined with the expertise and the professionalism of our employees genuinely set the standard in Europe.

Our core and service facilities provide their high-tech equipment and expertise to our own researchers but also scientists from other organizations and even industrial customers can benefit from these services.

We have released a brochure which you can download via this website.

The Core Facility Program is headed by Geert Van Minnebruggen.