Facilities

The Creoptix WAVE GCI/SPR

The WAVEsystem, a Creoptix GCI Technology, puts a breakthrough level of binding kinetics analysis at your fingertips by pushing the boundaries of affinity range and sample compatibility. The WAVE's exceptionally high data quality, sample compatibility and automated software facilitates drug discovery and enable new inroads into R&D.

Creoptix WAVESystem

Zeiss 880 Airyscan FAST microscope 

The LSM 880 is a confocal laser scanning microscope with four confocal detectors (including Airyscan) on an upright microscope. The LSM 880 is a fast, sensitive, linear scanning confocal system with temperature regulated detectors, electronics, and scanners for versatile imaging of many different samples.

Zeiss 880 Airyscan FAST Microscope

Communal facilities

We provide communal facilities to all WIBR students and staff. These are managed by PPP (Facilities Management) but it is each research group's responsibility to maintain the day-to-day running and the high standards of their areas.

Tissue culture rooms

The Tissue Culture (TC) rooms available within WIBR have been designated for specific cell culture protocols and this should be strictly adhered to. Listed below are the available TC rooms and their specific designations.

Communal equipment

WIBR provides communal equipment located throughout the Institute for all its students and staff. This is centrally supported and covered by preventative maintenance contracts.

A list of communal equipment is shown below.

• Class II Cabinets
• CO2 Incubators
• Gel Documentation
• Fluorescent/Tissue Culture Microscopes
• Bench Top Tissue Culture Centrifuges
• Floor Standing High Speed Centrifuges
• Floor Standing Ultracentrifuges
• Bench Top Ultracentrifuge
• Cooled Incubators
• Orbital Bacterial Shaker Incubators
• Underbench Fridges
• Underbench Freezers
• -20 Freezers
• -80 Freezers
• Plate Reader
• Gel Documentation (Basic and Chemiluminescence)
• X-Ray Film Processors
• Freeze-Dyers
• Ice Machines
• Autoclaves
• Water Systems

Specialised Communal Equipment

Preventative Maintenance/Service Contracts: Laboratory Operations and Safety managers have taken out contracts that cover all WIBR communal laboratory equipment.

The follows items are covered by our contacts (in general):

• 1 or 2 Preventative Maintenance visits/Year.
• Emergency Call-outs.
• Spare Parts or discounts on Spare Parts.
• Guaranteed Response Times.
• Training and Technical Assistance.

Equipment FAQ

Why not do all the different TC work in one area?

Cross contamination, whether it be cell line, mycoplasma or viral, is a common occurrence in some laboratories. It is WICI policy to perform cell experimentation in the appropriate areas to reduce this from happening.

Who is in overall control of the designation of the communal facilities?

The designation of the rooms is decided by the needs of the WICI at that time. It is discussed with end-users constantly, but ultimately decided on the basis of Institute need by the management committee.

Non-Warranty Repairs

An independent engineer covers repairs to equipment that is not covered under a PM Contract and that may not be cost-effective to repair by the manufacturing company. The equipment should be decontaminated and left in Wing 3.2. A Decontamination/Equipment repair form should be filled in with all the relevant information and left with the equipment, or e-mailed to either Laboratory Operation Managers. The resulting invoice will be split between the end users who have the repairs and the costs charged against their respective Grant Codes.

What happens if there is an equipment failure?

In the first instance get in contact with one of the Laboratory Operations team. We will troubleshoot any faults / problems before calling out an engineer. An equipment Repair/Decontamination Certificate should be filled out and emailed to either of the Laboratory Operation Managers. An engineer will be called out and repair / replacement of the equipment will result.

Can I call an Engineer out myself?

Most groups have their own equipment and can call out their own engineers. They must however use appropriate WIBR procedures and contact both building services (ext. 46622) and Security (ext. 46888) to inform them of who is coming in, where they are going and what equipment they have come in to repair. All communal equipment and centrally supported wing equipment is covered by Laboratory Operations and therefore the companies should only be contacted by us.