Research infrastructure facilities

Several research infrastructure facilities of the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and HiLIFE offer research services, instruments, facilities and technologies for academic research groups, companies and authorities subject for charge.
Explore our research infrastructures
Bio­cen­ter Flow Cyto­metry Unit

Biocenter Flow Cytometry Unit is located at the Viikki campus and provides flow cytometry analysis services and training for new users. We offer state-of-art analyzing flow cytometers for customer use. As a customer you have an option to be trained to become an independent user or you can have your samples run as a service. To offer the best service for our university-associated and external researchers, we have integrated with Biomedicum Flow Cytometry and Viikki Sorting Flow Cytometry Units and we are part of HiLIFE Helsinki Institute of Life Science.

Biocom­plex Puri­fic­a­tion

Biocomplex is specialized in macromolecular sample preparation and purification for functional and structural studies using preparative ultracentrifugation, monolithic chromatography and asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation technologies. Biocomplex also actively develops new purification methods for large biopolymers, often in co-operation with manufacturers. Our technologies can be used in different combinations to purify large macromolecular complexes such as viruses, virus-like particles, viral subassemblies, exosomes, membrane vesicles, large protein complexes, ribonucleoprotein complexes etc. Biocomplex is supported by the University of Helsinki (HiLIFE and Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences) and Academy of Finland.

Biodata Analytics Unit

The Biodata analytics unit is a part of the HiLife Institute for Biotechnology and was established in spring 2020 under the Thriving Nature Profiling Action. We seek to advise research groups at the university on state-of-the-art statistical and bioinformatics methods for biological data sets. We also take part in the development of new methods with an emphasis on modern big data applications. Typical datasets include genome, ecological, community and phenotyping data, and their combinations.

Biomolecular Interactions

The Biomolecular Interactions unit in the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences offers molecular interaction analysis services for both academic and non-academic users. Biomolecular interactions can either be measured label-free with Biacore T100 using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) or with Monolith NT.115 using MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST). With SPR, one partner of the complex is immobilized onto the surface of a chip and with MST, the interactions are studied in solution while one partner is fluorescently labelled.

Environmental Laboratory

Environmental Laboratory (former AlmaLab) is the laboratory of the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences at University of Helsinki. Environmental Laboratory is located in the City of Lahti, ca. 100 km north of Helsinki. Environmental Laboratory has facilities for diverse chemical and molecular biological analyses. The laboratory is used also by other universities in Lahti area for education and research. The laboratory offers also expertise for private companies to help them in their research and development programs. In cooperation with Environmental Laboratory companies can accomplish studies which are not done by commercial analytical laboratories.

Helsinki University Lipidomics Unit

Helsinki University Lipidomics Unit (HiLIPID) is specialized in compositional analyses of lipids, fatty acids and their bioactive derivatives in animal and human tissues, cells and fluids. We are experienced in metabolic studies utilizing labeled precursors. We provide the services to different fields of life sciences. Customers are research groups, companies and authorities from medical, biological, environmental and veterinary sciences. The services are tailored according to the needs of the customer and vary from supported equipment rental to full analytical service (including sample preparation, mass spectrometric or gas chromatographic analysis, and multivariate statistics).

Mo­lecu­lar Eco­logy and Sys­tem­at­ics laboratory

MES-laboratory is a multi-user core facility to provide up-to-date research environment for groups located in the Faculty of Biological and Environmental sciences. It has scope especially in applying molecular genetic tools in studies of wild populations and non-model organisms. These include studies of DNA polymorphisms and gene expression patterns in systematics, biogeography, conservation biology, evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology. MES-laboratory is part of the Viikki Campus infrastructure and aims to provide services across local disciplines.

National Plant Phenotyping

NaPPI – the National Plant Phenotyping Infrastructure is on Finland’s roadmap for research infrastructures (FIRI – Finnish Research Infrastructure). The NaPPI facilities are located in two nodes: in the greenhouse complex at the Viikki campus of the University of Helsinki and the spectromics laboratory at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF). NaPPI operates the full continuum from genomics to non-invasive high-throughput phenomics and culminates in high precision metabolomics and chemical imaging.

The Faculty’s biological research stations

The Faculty’s biological research stations serve as competence hubs and bases for multidisciplinary research projects and long-term monitoring. The stations are located in Tvärminne, Hanko on the southern coast of Finland, in Lammi, Hämeenlinna in southern Finland, and in Kilpisjärvi, Enontekiö at the very northwesternmost point of Finland. The stations are also open to communities and private visitors.

The research stations enable world-class multidisciplinary study of the environment. They provide access to nature, research infrastructure services as well as datasets and information. Through the combination of research, education and innovation, we have the capacity to understand climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainable development. For the University, the research stations serve as links to local society, business life and citizens.

Viikki Metabolomics Unit

The Viikki Metabolomics Unit (ViMU) is focused on plant metabolomics. The unit offers both targeted and non-targeted analysis using UPLC-PDA-QTOF/MS, UPLC-QTRAP/MS and GC-QQQ/MS techniques. Additionally the unit offers analytical services for microbial, algal and cyanobacterial applications and pharmacokinetics and novel drug development.

Viikki Plant Growth Facilities

Viikki Campus research glasshouses and protected research field make it possible to conduct a wide range of high-quality scientific research and teaching. The premises include also the plant imaging installations of the NaPPI infrastructure as well growing rooms and chambers. Helsinki University mainly uses the plant growing services but also users from the outside are able to carry out projects in the facility.

Wild Animal Phenotyping

Wild Animal Phenotyping (WildAP) aims to fill a gap in the Finnish infrastructure landscape via providing coordinated state-of-the art wild animal phenotyping equipment, services, training and expertise to support wildlife research, conservation and management. WildAP aims to be a resource for researchers for the measurement of morphology, behaviour, physiology, communication and animal welfare.

Please see our services page for a list of the instruments and equipment we make available to researchers and the services we provide.

The WildAP infrastructure currently operates at the University of Helsinki Viikki campus and Lammi Biological Station.

All HiLIFE Infrastructures

University of Helsinki Life Science Research Infrastructures are available as HiLIFE platforms to all University of Helsinki researchers as well as users outside the UH.

The Faculty's equipment list for Faculty staff

This equipment list is for Faculty staff only and requires logging in to the Flamma intanet.