Center Infrastructure
One of the major advantages of Hadassah BrainLabs, is its comprehensive infrastructure for brain research. Relying on years of experience of one of the top academic institutes in the world, we have at our disposal unparalleled laboratories and equipment including:
Dept. of Neurology Laboratories: Fully equipped facilities for histopathological, biochemical, immunological, behavioral and molecular biology research, needed for animal and tissue culture studies. These includes cryostat, paraffin embedding center, microtome, dissecting microscopes, inverted phase contrast microscopes, fluorescent and light microscopes with a computerized image analysis system connected by color video camera, several PCR machines, real time PCR machine, spectrophotometers, gel-electrophoresis apparatuses, FACS apparatus and equipment for motor performance and mazes. In addition, the labs are equipped with stereotaxic devices, perfusion electronic machine and video EEG for laboratory animals.
Biological Psychiatry Laboratory: Fully equipped for behavioral studies including specialized SPF rooms for rodent behavioral experiments equipped with computerized video tracking systems, based on video cameras and Ethovision behavioral tracking software, including modes for multiple body points, multiple arenas and social interaction. In each room, apart from the overhead camera, a second tripod-based color camera is used for vertical tracking. Specialized apparatus for startle / pre-pulse inhibition and fear conditioning, as well as rotarod testing for both mice and rats are available.
IntelliCage: Hadassah BrainLabs is the first laboratory in Israel to implement the unique IntelliCage technology developed by TSE systems. The IntelliCage allows researchers to assess the home cage behavior and cognitive performance of up to 16 individual mice separately while they are living in a social environment. This unique experimental setup fosters natural social behavior in a biologically relevant, enriched but highly standardized home cage context. In this way, the IntelliCage minimizes the need for handling and human intervention, thereby increasing task validity, data reproducibility and ensuring a high level of animal welfare. IntelliCage is operated by trained Hadassah BrainLabs personnel and is available to clients for their experiments.
Hebrew University Interdepartmental Equipment Division: Equipment available to the center researchers includes spectrophotometers (BMC Galaxy Fluorostar and Luminometer), lyophilizer, nanodrop, liquid nitrogen and equipment for developing X-ray films.
The Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine of Hadassah Ein Karem offers state-of-the-art technologies enabling visualization, digitization, and image analysis spanning from molecular resolution to in-vivo rodent imaging including two optical imaging systems for luminance and fluorescence high throughput imaging (IVIS Spectrum and IVIS Lumina), a dedicated high resolution ultrasound (VEVO3100) combined with photoacoustics (Lazer X), a 7T PET-MRI for anatomical and functional studies and a micro PET-CT system.
Authority for Biological and Biomedical Models: The Authority, a fully accredited AAALAC institute, operates several SPF (specific pathogen free) animal facilities within the Hadassah – Hebrew University Medical Center Campus. The Sharett Institute SPF animal facility provides quarters for storage and maintenance of non-reproducing animals designated for experiments. Of particular relevance to the Hadassah BrainLabs center is a specialized unit for maintenance and reproduction of mouse and rat lines (both wild type and transgenic).
Research Environment: Hadassah Medical Organisation (HMO) and the Hebrew University – Hadassah Faculty of Medicine together make up one of the leading academic medical institutes in Israel. Hadassah is a tertiary referral center for Israel with two university hospitals and five schools of allied medical professions, owned and operated in collaboration with the Hebrew University. HMO is a leading institute in biomedical research, as determined by scientific publications and number of competitive research grants. Hadasit, the commercial arm of Hadassah, can provide key support to researchers in the areas of patent registration, marketing and technology transfer.