Facility provides support in experimental design, gene editing strategy development, CRISPR tool production and remote assistance to researchers
The Genome Editing Laboratory (LEG), a facility of the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), is launching its second call for user proposals. Proposal submissions will take place from February 2 to February 27, 2026, exclusively through the SAU Online system.
Operated by the Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), the facility offers technical and scientific support for the generation of mammalian knockout cells using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, with an emphasis on strategic experimental planning and the production of genome editing tools.
The initiative aims to expand national access to gene editing technologies, fostering technological autonomy and accelerating the development of models for biomedical, pharmacological and biotechnological research.
Main services offered by LEG include:
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Experimental design and gene editing strategy development: Support in defining the most appropriate approach for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout, including guide RNA selection, validation strategies and analysis of potential off-target effects, limited to up to two genes per proposal;
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Production of CRISPR tools: Manufacturing of customized molecular components such as sgRNAs, plasmid vectors and ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, according to the defined experimental design;
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Remote support: Remote technical guidance to assist users in applying CRISPR tools in their own laboratories, including recommendations on transfection, clone selection and genotypic validation. Support will be provided in up to two remote meetings, with a maximum duration of two hours each, during the project execution period defined in the call.
As part of the strategy to broaden national access to the technology, proposals from Brazil’s North, Northeast and Central-West regions will be prioritized. Selected users may also follow, in person at LNBio, the experiments related to CRISPR tool production.
Eligibility criteria
Eligible proposals must meet the following criteria:
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Projects aimed at constitutive knockout of up to two target genes in mammalian cell lines;
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Proposals involving conditional knockout strategies will not be accepted;
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Only one proposal per principal investigator will be considered. In the event of multiple submissions, only the first proposal submitted will be evaluated.
How to submit research proposals
Researchers interested in using the LEG infrastructure must submit their proposals via SAU Online, a portal managed by CNPEM’s User Office (EdU).
LEG calls for proposals are published semiannually. In this first call of 2026, selected projects may be carried out between April 1 and September 30, 2026.
Before submitting proposals, general questions may be sent to CNPEM’s User Office at edu@cnpem.br. Technical questions related specifically to the facility should be directed to leg@lnbio.cnpem.br. For information on financial support, please visit CNPEM’s financial support webpage.
Important dates
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Proposal submission: February 2–27, 2026;
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Announcement of selected proposals: March 30, 2026;
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Project execution: April 1–September 30, 2026.
About LNBio
The Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio) is dedicated to the study of human health, combining integrative biology with advanced technologies. With competencies in gene editing, microphysiological systems, bioimaging, and tissue engineering, LNBio works to discover molecular targets and develop innovative therapies for illnesses that are of public importance. This broad approach, which includes molecules and living organisms, unravels molecular mechanisms to identify bioactive compounds that are essential to develop new active pharmaceutical ingredients. LNBio concentrates its efforts on demands from the public health system, using state-of-the-art infrastructure and a matrix work model to promote innovation and development at the crossroads between science and health. To integrate health with socioeconomic and environmental factors, LNBio serves as a scientific platform that is available to the government, able to develop advanced technologies that respond to strategic issues. LNBio is part of the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) in Campinas, São Paulo, a private, non-profit organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI).
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).
