The initiative expands access for the Latin American scientific community to specialized infrastructure of CNPEM’s Biomolecule Synthesis Laboratory
The Biomolecule Synthesis Laboratory (LSB), a facility at the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), announces the opening of the first call for proposals for RNA oligonucleotide synthesis aimed at researchers from the academic community in Brazil and Latin America. Proposal submissions will be accepted from June 1 to June 30, 2026, exclusively through the SAU Online system.
Inscrições podem ser feitas até o dia 30 de junho.
Operated by the Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), the LSB offers specialized infrastructure for automated chemical synthesis of biomolecules in the solid phase, including DNA and RNA oligonucleotides, and synthetic peptides. Currently, the facility offers continuous synthesis of DNA oligonucleotides for the scientific community. The new call for proposals expands access to RNA synthesis, a strategic biomolecule for basic and applied research.
The facility features modern equipment and a highly qualified technical team for the production of customized biomolecules used in studies of molecular biology, structural biology, the development of biotechnological tools, and other scientific and technological applications.
The purpose of providing this infrastructure is to expand the research and development capabilities of the Brazilian scientific community, offering access to high-quality biomolecules necessary for carrying out advanced scientific projects.
Proposal requirements
In this first call for proposals, the LSB will dedicate itself exclusively to the synthesis of RNA oligonucleotides. Up to six proposals will be selected and implemented throughout the period of the call.
- To make production feasible, sequences with the following characteristics must be requested:
- Maximum number of sequences per proposal: 3;
- Sequence length: up to 60 bases;
- Synthesis scale: 25 or 50 nmol;
- Purification method: cartridge;
- Marking 5’: FAM.
After synthesis and quality control, the RNA oligonucleotides will be sent to the responsible researchers via the postal service.
Technical and scientific support
In addition to the production of biomolecules, the selected researchers will receive technical and scientific support from the LSB team, including:
- Consulting services in sequence analysis;
- Guidelines on handling and storing RNA;
- Biomolecule quality control.
- Proposal submission
Researchers interested in performing RNA oligonucleotide synthesis should submit their proposals through SAU Online, a portal managed by the CNPEM User’s Office (EdU), from June 1 to June 30, 2026.
In this first round of proposals, the selected projects may be implemented from August 1 to December 30, 2026.
Before submission, general questions can be sent to the CNPEM User’s Office via email at edu@cnpem.br. Specific technical questions regarding the facilities should be directed to lsb@lnbio.cnpem.br.
Participation in this call for proposals is free of charge for selected researchers. For questions regarding funding, please visit the CNPEM financial aid page.
Evaluation and selection criteria
The submitted proposals will be evaluated by an internal LNBio committee, considering the following criteria:
- Scientific merit: the scientific relevance of the proposal and its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the research area.
- Technical feasibility: suitability of the requested sequences to the technical capabilities of the LSB, considering length, composition, and complexity of the synthesis.
- Clarity of scientific application: suitability of the requested sequences to the experimental objectives presented in the proposal.
- Geographic scope: In order to broaden access to CNPEM’s infrastructure, priority will be given to the participation of researchers affiliated with institutions in the North, Northeast, and Central-West regions of Brazil, aiming to have at least 60% of approved projects allocated to researchers affiliated with institutions in these regions, always respecting the criteria of scientific merit and technical feasibility.
- Number of proposals selected: up to 6 proposals will be selected for implementation in this call for proposals. If the number of qualified proposals exceeds the laboratory’s capacity, priority will be given to those with the highest scientific merit and best technical suitability to the LSB’s capabilities.
Important Dates
1st Call for Proposals:
- Submission opening: June 1, 2026
- Submission deadline: June 30, 2026
- Announcement of selected proposals: July 20, 2026
- Project execution period: August to December 2026
About CNPEM
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is home to a state-of-the-art, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment and works on different fronts within the Brazilian National System for Science, Technology and Innovation. A social organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), with the involvement of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, CNPEM is driven by research that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability. It is responsible for Sirius, the largest assembly of scientific equipment constructed in the country, and is currently constructing Project Orion, a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructure open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects involving the productive sector, and training for researchers and students are the pillars of this institution that is unique in Brazil and able to serve as a bridge between knowledge and innovation. CNPEM's research and development activities are carried out through its four National Laboratories: Synchrotron Light (LNLS), Biosciences (LNBio), Nanotechnology (LNNano), Biorenewables (LNBR), as well as its Technology Unit (DAT) and the Ilum School of Science — an undergraduate program in Science and Technology.
