The 17 HiLIFE platforms consist of 57 LSRIs, e.g. individual core facilities providing the services. HiLIFE platforms are selected for four-year terms based on an external evaluation by international research infrastructure experts in a process called HiLIFE research infrastructure assessment (HiLIFE-RIA). The current term is for 2025-2028 and includes financial support especially for the salaries of LSRI personnel. The HiLIFE platforms have been developed bottom-up, and form loose technology-based networks that jointly develop services across UH. Majority of the LSRIs operate on the Viikki and Meilahti campuses, but LSRI units coordinated by HiLIFE can also be found on central and Kumpula campuses and, due to the network of research stations, around Finland. In addition, majority of LSRIs are linked to national (FIRI) or international (ESFRI-ERIC) level research infrastructures.
To facilitate navigation in the wide and versatile technology landscape offered by HiLIFE platforms, we have divided them into three larger entities.
Bioinformatics and Omics: Bioinformatics, Flow cytometry, Genomics, Metabolomics, Proteomics and Single-Cell omics platforms.
Structures and functions at all scales: Drug discovery, Chemical biology and screening, In vivo imaging, Bioimaging, Histotechnology and lab animal pathology services, Integrated structural biology and molecular spectroscopy for Life Sciences platforms.
Collections and model systems: Comprehensive model organisms, Genome editing, Function and stem cells, National biodiversity collections, Research stations and Plant growth facilities platforms.
Consists of Bioinformatics, Flow cytometry, Genomics, Metabolomics, Proteomics and Single-Cell omics platforms. These LSRIs of these platforms enable comprehensive analysis across multiple levels of biology, including necessary bioinformatics expertise.
Consist of two imaging platforms containing light and electron microscopy, as well as in vivo imaging, Structural biology, Drug discovery, chemical biology and screening, animal pathology and molecular spectroscopy. Together, these LSRIs allow visualization and functional analysis with scales ranging from molecules to whole organisms.
Consists of 5 platforms. Collectively, these LSRIs provide access to a wide range of biological collections, facilities for field work as well as in vitro and in vivo model systems.
The University of Helsinki's equipment base has been centralized in the Research Portal. The university's equipment can be found under the host units (faculties and independent institutes). The LSRI units described above operate under these host units. Individual devices are connected to operational units, and the use of devices is always agreed on a case-by-case basis with the administrators. The research portal has the option to search for devices based on search criteria.
The use of HiLIFE LSRIs should be mentioned in the acknowledgement section of publications, for example with the sentence “The facilities and expertise of XX LSRI, supported by HiLIFE is gratefully acknowledged”. When LSRI personnel provides substantial intellectual input to the project, they should be included as authors according to established international guidelines.
More detailed information and procedures are LSRI-specific and information about them is available directly from the LSRI units.