Infraestrutura

The Environmental and Experimental Pathology Program has modernized laboratories and accessible infrastructure for people with special needs (PNEs), integrated with the Research and Technology Center (CPT), the Biodiversity Research Center (NPBio) and the Laboratory of Structural and Functional Ecology of Ecosystems (LEEF). These spaces serve not only graduate students, but also offer support to undergraduate students, including scientific initiation activities and internships, in addition to receiving students and professors from other universities, both national and international.

The CPT and NPBio operate at a new address, located on the Indianópolis Campus, and together have an area of approximately 1,070 m2, which includes several laboratories, rooms for professors and students, a classroom, cafeteria and rest area. The LEEF, created in 2018, is located on the Sorocaba Campus.

Research and Technology Center (CPT) includes:

1. Pathological Anatomy Laboratory:
   Specialized in histological processing, including histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques, working with biopsy, necropsy, or experimental materials.
2. Experimental Homeopathy Study Laboratory:
   Dedicated to basic research on dynamized inputs, including biological models with Artemia salina and automated production of homeopathic potencies from raw materials approved by ANVISA or MAPA.
3. Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory (biosafety level 2):
   Designed for advanced research in molecular and cellular biology, supporting techniques like nucleic acid amplification (PCR), gene expression analysis, and microbial cultivation.
   Equipment: Laminar flow hoods, thermocyclers, CO2 incubators, refrigerated centrifuges, ELISA readers, BOD incubators, microscopes.
   More information here
4. Cell Culture Laboratory:
   Dedicated to cell cultivation and analysis, divided into two rooms: one for non-infected cells and another for pathogen-exposed cells.
   Equipment: Laminar flow hood, centrifuge, CO2 incubator, inverted microscope.
   More information here
5. Cryopreservation Laboratory:
   For safe preservation of biological materials used in scientific research.
   Equipment: Two ultra-low freezers (-80°C), three liquid nitrogen tanks (-196°C).
6. Imaging Laboratory:
   For fluorescence microscopy, bright-field microscopy, and digital macroscopy records.
   Equipment: Specialized microscopy equipment.
7. Flow Cytometry Laboratory:
   Specialized in multiparametric analysis of suspended cells for immunophenotyping, apoptosis studies, and biomarker detection.
   Equipment: BD Accuri C6 flow cytometer.
   More information here
8. SPF Animal Facility and Fish Bioterium:
   Maintains rats, mice and zebrafish (Danio rerio) under Specific Pathogen Free conditions, with specialized rooms for surgery, necropsy, and ultrasonic vocalization studies.
   Equipment: Techniplast microisolators, Noldus-EthoVision system, surgical equipment.
   More information here

Biodiversity Research Center (NPBio) includes:

1. Herbarium:
   Officially registered as "HERBÁRIO UNIP" with the Brazilian Botanical Society, containing about 11,000 Amazonian plant specimens.
   More information here
2. Extraction Laboratory and Extract Library:
   Stores over 2,300 extracts from Amazonian, Atlantic Forest and Antarctic plants at -20°C.
   More information here
3. Microbiology Laboratory:
   Evaluates antimicrobial response of plant extracts against veterinary-relevant bacteria and fungi.
4. Antitumor Screening Laboratory:
   It evaluates the cytotoxic activity of extracts against malignant tumors cultivated in vitro. It follows the standards of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), in the United States.
   Equipment: Seven cell lines maintained for research.
   Funding: Part of the equipment and consumables are financed by FAPESP (2019/12202-3, 2018/21278-0, 2017/03470-9, 2010/09694-7, 2010/05511-5).

Laboratory of Structural and Functional Ecology of Ecosystems (LEEF)

LEEF was created to develop research on fish assemblages in Neotropical rivers and streams; monitoring of ichthyofauna in Conservation Units and for environmental licensing; assessment of environmental impacts on aquatic communities, such as dams, water pollution, silting, among others; use of fish as environmental indicators, through the proposal of biotic integrity indexes and environmental assessment of rivers and streams.

a) Scientific Fish Collection – The LEEF fish collection at Universidade Paulista was implemented in 2023, bringing together specimens mainly from the Upper Paraná. The collection has a collection from the Tietê River, Sorocaba River, Ribeira de Iguape, Paranapanema and Litorânea basins, obtained in projects developed by the laboratory. In addition, it has a relevant collection from the Ipanema National Forest. The collection includes freshwater species collected throughout the state of São Paulo, as well as other states such as Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul and Tocantins. The collection includes approximately 1,000 lots catalogued and preserved in ethyl alcohol.

Infrastructure and Team

The laboratories and equipment operate on a multi-user system and are staffed by a team of 8 employees exclusively from the Postgraduate Program, including 2 laboratory managers, 1 herbarium curator, 3 technicians and 2 assistants. The team is responsible for organization, maintenance and training on safety standards, in addition to ensuring compliance with SOPs and providing support to students and professors in experimental techniques. In the vivariums, the assistants care for the rodents and assist in the experiments, including scheduling and controlling materials and access.

In addition to the laboratories, the UNIP veterinary hospitals, located on the Anchieta Campus, Campinas, Bauru and São José dos Campos, which provide care for small and large animals, also support the PPG-PAE research. Experiments that require additional infrastructure are carried out through partnerships with public and private institutions, such as the Butantan Institute, UNIFESP, USP, UFMG, among others. Some formalized partnerships include support from public bodies and companies, such as SIGO Homeopatia and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.

University Structure

Universidade Paulista also offers a modern structure that supports postgraduate activities at the master's and doctoral levels, in addition to a high-quality administrative and academic infrastructure that provides full support for teaching organization, monitoring of dissertation and theses submission deadlines, and other administrative activities, such as:

1. Rooms for theoretical classes and seminars: air-conditioned, equipped with microcomputers, multimedia projectors, DVDs, screens, tables and chairs. As of 2020, all classrooms were restructured with a videoconferencing system for hybrid activities, with TEAMS MICROSOFT being the standard platform used.
2. Rooms for qualifications and defenses: two air-conditioned rooms, with multimedia projectors, microcomputers, screens, upholstered chairs and a five-seater table for the examining board, equipped with a videoconferencing system.
3. Student lounge and teacher lounge: both air-conditioned, equipped with tables, chairs, microcomputers connected to high-speed internet (including wireless network), scanner and printer. As of 2020, all classrooms were restructured with a videoconferencing system for hybrid activities, with TEAMS MICROSOFT being the standard platform used.
4. Auditoriums: located in the Graduate Studies building, they have capacities for 50, 150 and 600 seats, with complete infrastructure for courses and events.
5. Graduate Studies Office: provides support to students and teachers in the program.
6. Library: The Indianópolis Library has specialized staff, accessible infrastructure and areas for individual and group study. It has computers with internet access for research in national and international databases, in addition to a diverse collection of books, periodicals and multimedia. All UNIP libraries are interconnected online, allowing broad access to services and resources 24 hours a day. UNIP continually invests in expanding its collection, which currently has 1,720,314 items. In addition, the university provides access to online databases through the CAPES Portal and is a member of the Federated Academic Community (CAFe), guaranteeing access to databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, Emerald and Taylor and Francis.
7. Computer labs: UNIP provides an additional computer lab for students and faculty, equipped with 20 microcomputers, a printer and technical support. All computers have access to databases and text editors. Software for performing statistical analyses, cataloging bibliographic material, creating teaching materials, databases and text editors are available. The computer labs, as well as the student and faculty rooms, are equipped with computers connected to the UNIP computer network, with access to high-speed internet (including wireless network), e-mail and the library network, allowing full access to the university's bibliographic collection.