Cellular Imaging and Screening Platform (PICCEL)

Technological platform

Description

The Cellular Imaging and Screening Platform (PICCEL), within the Department of Cellular and Molecular Radiobiology (DRCM, CEA), is dedicated to high-throughput (HTS) and high-content screening (HCS) on cellular models. The platform brings together the expertise and infrastructure necessary for the design, miniaturization, and automation of cellular assays, systematic parallel screening of biological and chemical modulators (siRNAs, CRISPRi/a, miRNAs, small molecules, repurposable drugs), quantification of simple or multiplexed reporter assays, and statistical analysis of large-scale datasets. High-content imaging is our preferred approach for phenotypic profiling, enabling multiplexed measurements from fluorescent or label-free readouts. Beyond screening, PICCEL provides access to robotic and imaging equipment for routine cellular characterization and exploratory applications. The platform collaborates closely with other iRCM facilities to deliver solutions tailored to each project. Our team adheres to a rigorous quality management framework, ensuring traceability and confidentiality of results across all screening projects.

Contacts

  • Mr Guillaume PINNA
  • Mrs Karine DUBRANA

https://jacob.cea.fr/drf/ifrancoisjacob/Pages/Departements/IRCM/Equipes/PF-PARi-ARN-interferences.aspx

Innovation themes

Map and access

18 Route du Panorama
Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives - DRF/JACOB/DRCM/PICCEL - Bât.05 (site ASNR) - 2ème étage - pièce A205
92260 FONTENAY-AUX-ROSES

Technology and equipments

Technologies utilisées

The PICCEL platform provides cutting-edge technologies for cell screening and imaging. It has automatic pipettors and dilutors with HEPA-filtered air flow for the automation of miniaturised cellular tests, access to high-content microscopes in confocal or epifluorescence mode, and solutions for automated quantitative image analysis. The platform also offers access to chemical molecule libraries and gene modulation tools (RNAi, CRISPRi, CRISPRa), enabling targeted or systematic functional studies to be carried out.

Keywords

Formations offers

Offres de prestations

The PICCEL platform offers a wide range of imaging-based screening approaches for cell-based assays, tailored to the needs of research projects. In particular, it enables functional genomic screening by loss or gain of gene function using RNA interference, CRISPR interference or CRISPR activation libraries. The platform also offers functional miRNA screening by loss or gain of function of microRNAs using antisense or miRNA mimic libraries, as well as screening of small molecule libraries, in particular libraries of repositionable drug compounds. The aim of all these approaches is to identify and characterise new genes, miRNAs or compounds involved in a biological function or metabolic pathway of interest, providing biomarkers or levers for the development of new exploratory strategies for fundamental or therapeutic purposes. The platform also offers routine services including the design, development and optimisation of miniaturised cell-based assays in 96- and 384-well formats, and the automation of cell-based treatments such as transfections, dose-response studies and pharmacological treatments. It handles the acquisition and algorithmic quantification of images for phenotypic profiling, as well as the processing and statistical analysis of large-scale data sets.

Offres de formations

The PICCEL platform welcomes students, researchers and professionals for practical training courses covering the design of miniaturised cell-based assays, their automation for screening purposes, the quantification of cell images and the analysis of large-scale data sets. Suitable for all levels, these courses enable participants to increase their autonomy and take full advantage of the platform's technologies and expertise.

Ecosystem

Establishments of affiliation

Labellisations

  • IBISA

Graduate schools