The Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC) is seeking to hire a specialized company to carry out assay validation and compound evaluation using dopaminergic neurons derived from pluripotent stem cells.
Requirements
- Proven experience in the culture of human neurons derived from pluripotent stem cells.
- Proven capability in the development and validation of cell-based functional assays using iPS-derived dopaminergic neurons.
- Proven capability in assay miniaturization.
- Experience in the application of controlled stimuli (including light stimulation).
- Experience in the quantification of biochemical biomarkers in iPS-derived cells.
- Experience in dose-response curve analysis for compound profiling in HTS (High Throughput Screening) format, providing relevant parameters.
- Capabilities for image acquisition and analysis in HTS format.
Scope of Work
Preliminary Validation
- Initial assays with reference compounds to confirm the correct functioning of the experimental system.
- Optimization of assay conditions, including lighting parameters.
- Definition of assay viability criteria (GO / NO GO).
Assay Validation and Compound Evaluation
- Implementation of the assay in dopaminergic neurons derived from pluripotent stem cells in a miniaturized 384-well multiplate (384 MTP) format.
- Treatment with reference compounds at different concentrations.
- Application of controlled light stimulation protocols, including appropriate control conditions.
- If compatible, evaluation of the cell culture through BrightField image acquisition in 384-well format before proceeding to the final step and, where feasible, quantification of cell density to provide an index
- of cell number (viability) after treatment.
- Quantification of dopamine in the cell supernatant using biochemical methods.
- Evaluation at multiple time points after treatment.
Companies with relevant experience are invited to send their expression of interest to ramona.galatola@iqac.csic.es before June 14, 2026.