Facilities

Analytical laboratories

These laboratories provide excellent facilities for routine analysis of human bodily fluids (i.e., blood, urine, sweat and saliva) including dedicated haematology analysers in accordance with WADA standards. Other related capacity includes:

• Optical imaging - fluorescence microscope with image analysis software.
• Applications for cell labelling and muscle fibre analysis.
• Analytical chemistry - Gas chromatography mass spectrometry, electron impact quadruple mass spectrometer for analysis of metabolites, and compounds in blood, urine and tissues. Fluorimetry.
• Stable isotope Tracers- infusion of metabolites and their stable isotope tracers and sampling of blood, urine and muscle biopsies.
• Hormone and metabolite assays by ELISA.

Molecular genetics laboratory

This laboratory is set up to run standard techniques in molecular genetics for high throughput analysis (i.e. 17,000 EU samples and over 5,000 Human Athlome Project samples). This laboratory comprises all standard (and dedicated) molecular biology equipment including pipettes, agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis apparatus, microfuges, bench and large scale centrifuges, real time PCR machines, DNA quantification instrument (e.g. Nanodrop Technologies Nanodrop® ND-8000 Spectrophotometer) and sterile work cabinets. In particular, the following methods are routinely practiced:

DNA/RNA extraction

Purification of DNA/RNA from blood and saliva, DNA from buccal cells, and cell-free total RNA (enriched with microRNA and other small RNA) from plasma and serum can be conducted for OIMCs applications (i.e. microarray and sequencing analyses)

Sample quality evaluation systems

• The NanoDrop 2000 and 8000 (8-sample) spectrophotometers are available for measuring nucleic acid and protein concentrations and calculating sample purity ratios.
• The Agilent Bioanalyzer 2100 is used to provide sizing, quantitation and quality assessment of DNA, RNA (including small RNA), proteins and cells, for example, to assess degradation of RNA in the 18S and 28S ribosomal peaks (of eukaryotes) using the Bioanalyzer RNA kits.

Genotyping and gene expression

Several units support a range of genotyping, gene expression and microRNA profiling experiments. 

• Affymetrix’ GeneChip^® Scanner 3000 7G is used to apply high-density array analysis for genomic and transcriptomic research.
• The QuantStudio 6 Flex System from Life technologies is used for gene expression, microRNA profiling, SNP genotyping, CNV analysis and pathogen detection in 96-well and 384-well plate formats. 
• The MAGPIX from Luminex can accommodate 50 tests in one reaction for qualitative and quantitative analysis of proteins and nucleic acids.
• The StepOnePlus qPCR instrument and the fast Veriti thermal cycler enhance the output of the qPCR experiments. 
• The DigiGenius gel documentation system can be used for focused DNA/RNA imaging.

Biocomputing

A genome analysis server (>16GB of RAM and >500GB of HDD) is established and maintained at the University of Brighton data centre for fast and efficient computation of whole genome data. This server is being enhanced further to incorporate other OMICs data analysis (e.g., polyomics/interomics capacity).

Biobanking

The laboratories house several ultra low temperature freezers for centralisation of samples, management and storage.

Other university facilities at our disposal

Exercise testing and prescription

In addition to the extreme environment laboratory capacity, our sports laboratories comprise state-of-the-art exercise testing laboratories for online and off line data analysis.

These laboratories have numerous dedicated fast treadmills and adjustable electrically braked cycle ergometers (for clinical and elite athlete populations) including breath-by-breath gas analysis, 12 lead ECG and defibrillators.

There are also numerous facilities for routine data analysis (e.g., network of workstations) for students and post-docs (including visiting scientists).

Body composition

The body composition analysis facilities comprise state of the art equipment for reliable and valid body fat mass and fat free mass assessment.

The underwater weighing tank can determine body density based on the Archimedes principle of water displacement while the Bodpod determines body density through a similar principle of air displacement but with great application to clinical populations such as obese, diabetic, elderly and frail individuals as well as athletes of high body mass and height such as basketball players, wrestlers etc.

A full array of body composition equipment such as skinfolds' Harpender calipers and bio electrical impedance monitors as well as energy expenditure equipment for the determination of energy requirements such as Douglas bags, online calorimeter systems, pedometers and accelerometers are used to compliment body composition analysis and interventions to modify body composition for health and exercise performance.

Finally, our body composition analysis facilities collaborate with the Brighton and Sussex Medical School's Clinical Imaging Science Center with provision of MRI and CT scanning facilities for body composition analysis for fat free mass, visceral and subcutaneous body fat and bone density determination. 

Environmental chamber

The environment chamber measures 47.25 m³ (4.5m x 3.5m x 3 mm) closely controls ambient temperature (-20°C to +50°C) and relative humidity (30% to 95%).

This purpose-built chamber supports a vast array of research activity exploring thermal stress and physiological function during rest and exercise and may be used for acclimatisation purposes.

Hypoxic chamber

The hypoxic chamber measuring 35.84 m³ (3.2m x 4m x 2.8 m) can decrease the fractional concentration of inspired oxygen from 20.93% (normoxic) to 11% enabling the simulation of altitudes up to an equivalent of ~5000m.

This purpose-built chamber supports a considerable body of research activity allied to both sport and exercise and health and may be used for acclimatisation purposes..

Environmental tank

The environmental tank which measures 19.15 m³ (1.13m x 1.13m x 1.5 m) can contain a range of water temperatures (typically 10-40°C) for precooling and preheating manoeuvers, breath hold studies and underwater weighing for the determination of body density.

Heat stress, hydration status, thermometry and thermography

We house a wide range of heat stress monitors, osmometers and refractometers to determine hydration status and data loggers to monitor thermoregulation in the body’s core i.e. via rectal, stomach or in aural canal, muscle (via single use or indwelling probes) and on the skin (using wired or infrared systems).

The FLIR E40bx thermal camera enables pictures of the whole body, or specific sites to be taken to analyse skin surface temperatures.

Isokinetic dynamometers

A multi-joint system for the assessment of ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints and a linear leg press for the unilateral, bilateral, and alternating assessment.

The CON-TREX MJ can assess isometric, concentric, and eccentric muscles actions across a range of speeds from 0 to 300°.s^-1.

The CON-TREX LP can assess the same muscle actions at speeds of 0 to 1m.s^-1.

These dynamometers support undergraduate and postgraduate research as well as physical screening processes for professional athletes.

Neuromuscular testing

Our two isokinetic dynanometers (leg press ad multi-joint; MJ& LP MK2, Con-Trex) allow for precise quantitative measurement of muscle strength. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS; model 200², The Magstim Company Ltd.), transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS; HDC Kit, The Magstim Company Ltd.), and percutaneous nerve stimulation (Constant Current Stimulator DS7A, Digitimer Ltd.) are non-invasive method of brain and nerve stimulations for thorough investigations of neuromuscular pathways and brain activities.

These measures can be combined with EMG recordings (15T/25T Powerlab data acquisition units -ADInstruments, BTS EMG – Bioengineering Corp.) to get a further insight into muscular activation level and recruitment orders.

Immersive screen

Measuring 2.4 x 6 metres, the immersive screen provides a canvass to display high definition video across the full width and height of the screen.

Videos displayed surround the individual by 210º. Response times and accuracy can be recorded to create simulated sporting environments.