Video tour
Watch a video of our laboratory of Flow Cytometry, Cell Phenotyping and Engineering.
Research in our lab focuses on development and preparation of unique in vitro models (3D and 2D cancer cell lines), derived from human tumor tissues. Our scientists have several years of experience with the technology of derivation of such models from several types of cancer (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, colorectal carcinoma and neuroendocrine tumors). De novo established cancer cell lines are routinely being characterized on in vitro level (by flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, protein chip technology, Western blot and PCR analysis) and in vivo by xenotransplantation (grafting) of human cancer cells into athymic (nude, Crl:NU(NCr)-Foxn1nu) mice, for verification the similarity of xenografts and original tumors on histolopathological level. Our lab pioneered this technology at Jessenious faculty of Medicine in Martin. Currently, in collaboration with the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, and with the use of our original human cell lines, we started project “XenoPig” in which we aim to develop a large, close-to-human animal model for modeling cancer.
Our technology is based on original protocol that was used for the establishment of the first 3D neuroendocrine cancer cell line abbreviated as 3DiNET. Independent testing of this cell line that was prepared by researcher from our lab is currently in progress in laboratories of Harvard Medical School, in Boston, USA. With the development of unique in vitroand in vivo models we would like to join the worldwide effort to fight cancer.
Our laboratory was also one of the first in Slovak Republic to master the technology of induced pluripotency and the preparation of ethically kosher pluripotent stem cells – induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSc). We utilize our 12-years of experience with technology, awarded with Nobel prize (in 2012) for international collaboration projects for development of in vitro models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. We optimized this technology for unrestricted preparation of practically unlimited number of hard-to-get cells, necessary for research (in case of ALS these cells are represented by motor neurons, that can not be easily obtained due to enormous invasivity to patient).
In our lab, we recently prepared and fully characterized the first Slovak iPSc cell line that was registered in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) Charité Universitatsmedizin Berlin registry (https://hpscreg.eu/cell-line/ORIONi001-A).
Research team members from the lab also responded to call of duty and joined the anti COVID-19 team from very beginning of global outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.
Watch a video of our laboratory of Flow Cytometry, Cell Phenotyping and Engineering.
The lab is equipped with several sophisticated instruments, such as a flow cytometer/sorter FACS Aria II, fluorescence microscope Olympus iX72, light microscope, BSL-2 laminar hoods, cell incubators, PCR thermocyclers and electrophoretic equipment for Western blot and PCR.
The lab offers introduction and training in flow cytometry, magnetic sorting method (MACS), imunohistochemistry, imunocytochemistry, antibody array protein chips, Western blot analysis of protein expression. We also provide training and consultations about derivation of primary cancer cell lines from cancer tissue or stem cells from skin biopsies. As a part of scientific cooperation, we also offer training about in vivo xenotransplantation methods and patent consulting services in the field of biotechnologies.
Take a virtual tour of our modern Laboratory of Flow Cytometry, Cell Phenotyping and Engineering.
APVV-21-0372: Development of XenoPig – a large, orthotopic xenograft animal model for modeling human pancreatic cancer.
(Principal Investigator: Ing. Ján Strnádel, PhD.)
APVV-17-0037: Development of novel in vitro models for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and testing the safety of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural precursors.
(Principal Investigator: Ing. Ján Strnádel, PhD.)
VEGA 1/0046/25: Study of spontaneous regression mechanisms on unique animal model of malignant melanoma.
(Principal Investigator: Ing. Ján Strnádel, PhD.)
VEGA 1/0145/22: The role of non-coding RNAs in the onset and development of major depressive disorder.
(Principal Investigator: RNDr. Dušan Braný, PhD.)
VEGA 1/0279/18: : The use of de novo developed 3D cancer cell in vitro models in testing of activated nanoparticles, inhibiting DNA repair mechanism.
(Principal Investigator: Ing. Ján Strnádel, PhD.)
Strnadel J, Valasek MA, Lin GY, Lin H, Tipps AMP, Woo SM, Fujimura K, Wang H, Choi S, Bui J, Hermosillo C, Jepsen K, Navarro MR, Kelber JA, Klemke RL, Bouvet M. Development of 3D-iNET ORION: a novel, pre-clinical, three-dimensional in vitro cell model for modeling human metastatic neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas. Hum Cell. 2024;37(5):1593-1601. doi: 10.1007/s13577-024-01113-7
Hajduchova D, Suroviakova S, Mersakova S, Brany D, Zahumenska R, Rehak M, Skovierova H, Nováková S, Nosal V, Marcinek J, Kalman M, Jozef Pec M, Brozmanova M, Melegova J, Juhas S, Juhasova J, Studenovska H, Mitruskova B, Pokusa M, Samec M, Samos M, Nicodemou A, Danisovic L, Dankova Z, Kurca E, Lexova Kolejakova K, Chandoga J, Plank L, Halasova E, Pecova R, Strnadel J. Modelling Duchenne muscular dystrophy in vitro with newly generated, blood cell-derived induced pluripotent stem cell line ORIONi003-A. Stem Cell Res. 2023;71:103187. doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2023.103187
Zahumenska R, Kalman M, Marcinek J, Mersakova S, Kertys M, Pindura M, Palkoci B, Kycina R, Vojtko M, Chromec T, Dumortier HM, Skovierova H, Novakova S, Mitruskova B, Kapralik I, Loderer D, Grendar M, Brany D, Mokry J, Bouvet M, Valasek MA, Janik J, Plank L, Laca L, Halasova E, Strnadel J. Establishment of PANDA – a new human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line with 3D cell culture technology. Neoplasma. 2022;69(1):165-173. doi: 10.4149/neo_2021_210924N1360
Strnadel J, Dumortier HM, Hajduchova D, Zahumenska R, Nosal V, Smolar M, Marcinek J, Kalman M, Mersakova S, Brany D, Juhas S, Juhasova J, Studenovska H, Mitruskova B, Suroviakova S, Novakova S, Skovierova H, Kurca E, Pecova R, Plank L, Halasova E. In vitro modeling of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with induced pluripotent stem cell technology-derived cell line ORIONi002-A. Stem Cell Res. 2022;63:102870. doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2022.102870
Mersakova S, Janikova K, Kalman M, Marcinek J, Grendar M, Vojtko M, Kycina R, Pindura M, Janik J, Mikolajcik P, Gabonova E, Laca L, Mejstrikova E, Halasova E, Strnadel J, Lasabova Z. Cancer stem cell marker expression and methylation status in patients with colorectal cancer. Oncol Lett. 2022;24(1):231. doi: 10.3892/ol.2022.13352
Kertys M, Grendar M, Horak V, Zidekova N, Kupcova Skalnikova H, Mokry J, Halasova E, Strnadel J. Metabolomic characterisation of progression and spontaneous regression of melanoma in the melanoma-bearing Libechov minipig model. Melanoma Res. 2021;31(2):140-151. doi: 10.1097/CMR.0000000000000722
Melo CM, Wang H, Fujimura K, Strnadel J, Meneghetti MCZ, Nader HB, Klemke RL, Pinhal MAS. The Heparan Sulfate Binding Peptide in Tumor Progression of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Front Oncol. 2021;11:697626. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.697626
Meršaková S, Lasabová Z, Strnádel J, Kalman M, Gabonova E, Sabaka P, Ciccocioppo R, Rodrigo L, Kruzliak P, Mikolajčík P. Genomic profile and immune contexture in colorectal cancer-relevance for prognosis and immunotherapy. Clin Exp Med. 2021;21(2):195-204. doi: 10.1007/s10238-020-00649-w
Strnadel J, Zahumenska R, Nosal V, Smolar M, Marcinek J, Kalman M, Juhas S, Juhasova J, Studenovska H, Dumortier H, Chromec T, Skovierova H, Mitruskova B, Kapralik I, Mersakova S, Brany D, Halasova E. Generation of ORIONi001-A induced pluripotent stem cell line for in vitro modeling of sporadic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Stem Cell Res. 2020;48:101981. doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2020.101981
The result of the EU-funded BioMed Martin project is a revolutionary research center that develops new diagnostic and therapeutic methods and at the same time strengthens cooperation between the city of Martin and the Žilina Region in Slovakia.