Infrastructure now receiving proposals in continuous flow, expanding access to strategic inputs for high-complexity research
From June 2 to November 30, 2025, the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) will accept research proposals from the external academic community to use the Biomolecule Synthesis Facility (LSB), operated by the Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, which is part of CNPEM.
The LSB is fully equipped for automated solid-phase chemical synthesis of biomolecules. Its core competence is the synthesis of peptides and DNA and RNA oligonucleotides such as primers, probes and aptamers, with or without special customizations. The facility supplies high quality biomolecules that are essential for various scientific areas, optimizing resources and making challenging projects feasible.
In 2025, the LSB will be dedicated exclusively to the synthesis of DNA oligonucleotides for external academic users. To make production viable, sequences with the following characteristics should be requested:
- Sequence length: up to 80 base pairs
- Limit of sequences per proposal:
- Standard DNA oligonucleotide > up to 12 sequences
- Customized DNA oligonucleotide > up to 3 sequences
- Scale of synthesis: 25, 50 or 100 nmol
- Biomolecule purification methods: cartridge and RP-HPLC
- Specific customizations: 5′, 3′ or internal
5’ customization:
Chemical modification: phosphorylation
Marking: FAM
3’ customization:
Chemical modification: phosphorylation, amino C7 and biotin
Marking: BHQ-1
Internal customization:
Special bases: inosine, uridine and phosphorothioate binding
In addition to biomolecule synthesis, users will have support from a highly qualified team committed to supporting the selected proposals and offering theoretical assistance in:
- Sequence analysis
- Assessing and selecting customizations
- Selecting the type of biomolecule purification
- Handling and storage.
The main objective of offering this research infrastructure, along with the established skills of the LNBio team, is to expand the research and development capabilities of academic environments that depend on these strategic inputs to advance their research.
Proposals must be submitted through the SAU online system, and will be selected by the LSB team, which will consider technical feasibility, schedule availability, alignment between the research and CNPEM’s mission, and the originality of the project.
No production costs will be passed on to the user, and the estimated delivery time is up to 60 days from approval of the proposal. The synthesized oligonucleotides will be sent by mail.
Important dates:
Submit proposals: from June 2 to November 30, 2025
Projects carried out: from June 2 to December 15, 2025
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), 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 supported by the Ministry of Education (MEC).
