The Cyprus Institute (CyI) launched on Tuesday, 27 June, the National Strategic Micro-CT infrastructure (microCT) of the BioMERA (Platform for Biosciences and Human Health in Cyprus: MicroCT Enabled and Synchrotron Radiation Enabled Analyses).
The inauguration of the infrastructure was followed by a public lecture and marked the official launch of the new research unit-platform, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus, through the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF).
The micro-CT infrastructure is of critical importance for our country and designed to assist and facilitate field of studies related with human health, while focusing on the fields of Bioscience and Biomedicine.
In addition to high-resolution 3D laboratory imaging using cutting-edge technology on modern and ancient human tissues and remains, pharmaceuticals, will also provide a wide variety of opportunities for applications in Archaeology, Cultural Heritage and Heritage Science.
Finally, the microCT infrastructure will open doors for Cypriot researchers and research groups, as well as regional users, to access multi-national cutting-edge, state-of-the-art research facilities, synchrotrons, in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East – such as SESAME in Jordan (sister facility of CyI), and at a pan-European level, allowing even higher resolution studies, and research requiring phase contrast. This new research unit will pursue high-level frontier research in the domains of biosciences, as well as biomedical sciences and technology.
Within this framework, The Cyprus Institute co-organized with the Spanish Embassy lecture entitled “ALBA and Science for Sustainability in Synchrotrons”, delivered by the distinguished Professor Caterina Biscari, Director of the ALBA Synchrotron National Infrastructure of Spain. The lecture was attended by scientists, members of the business community, government officials, and the Ambassador of Spain in Cyprus, H.E. Mr. Gabriel Ferrán Carrión.
On 28th of June, within this context, a BioMERA Platform and BEATS/SESAME workshop entitled “Opportunities for Scientific Applications Using microCT, FTIR, XRF and XAFS – From Laboratory to Synchrotrons” took place.
Source: The Cyprus Institute I News (https://shorturl.at/nsSTU)