COS provides robust systems-biology because we have developed in-vitro models to screen biological activities new bioactives, drug candidates, cosmetics and/or chemicals. COS has developed and optimised in-vitro models (e.g., adipocytes, fibroblasts, macrophages, endothelial, hepatocytes, and myocytes) that are available to researchers and can prepare a new cell line to rapidly discern the effect of a molecule at a molecular and cellular level. To complement such studies, COS includes a digestive model to analyse biotransformation for substances and study bioavailability at a high resolution using metabolomics equipment. COS also performs in-vivo studies with various animal models to generate data on tissues, organs and complex biological systems. The data from in-vitro and in-vivo assays on experimental models are essential, but often the success of a scientific approach will heavily rely on efficacy in well-controlled intervention studies using human volunteers. The omics application for human samples provides a properly integrated essential data set using bioinformatics tools, which allow us to a construct a scientific metabolic explanation for an effect and behaviour for a biological system and its mechanism. COS has the knowledge and facilities to design and coordinate controlled, randomised, and prospective studies in collaboration with a consolidated health network with vast experience in performing such studies. The intervention studies were designed to comply with European regulations and ethics for good practices, while the observational studies were designed in accordance with the Strobe statement.

Our service integrates the following different technologies. - Sequencing: Capillary electrophoresis 3500 Genetic Analyser for Sanger sequencing and Ion Torrent PGM for next-generation sequencing applications. - Microarrays: Agilent microarrays for RNA and miRNA measurements. - qPCR: ABI 7900HT real-time PCR instrument. Our genomics and transcriptomics facilities offer services from single gen to genome-wide analyses through standard and next-generation sequencing, genotyping, quantitative PCR, and full Agilent microarray processing.

The infrastructure for the facility includes state-of-the-art mass spectrometry for MS and LC-MS/MS experiments as well as chromatographic and electrophoretic systems for protein and peptide separation. The service integrates the following different technologies: - Gel-based proteomics - MS-based proteomics - Interactomics Through proteomics, we can implement optimised methods to profile proteins in biological fluids and tissue; to quantify and identify proteins as well as posttranslational modifications; and to study protein-protein interactions; we can also modify and develop new assays as required by our clients.

The BioImaging Unit is a support structure to aid and nurture research from the other techniques. The COS Bioimaging unit provides services using state-of-the-art confocal and electron microscopes with on-site computational support for data processing, storage and image analysis.

Metabolomics is focused on profiling and quantifying small, natural compounds that collectively compose the metabolome. Small molecules are direct indictors of biochemical activity and, therefore, are easier to correlate with phenotype. The key services include the following: - New discoveries (non-targeted metabolomics) - Metabolome profiling or global metabolomics - Lipidomics - Relative and absolute small molecule quantitation (targeted metabolomics) focused to food and health sectors.

The metabolomics and proteomics units have a complementary genomics and transcriptomics unit to solve hypotheses from a genetic perspective with the corresponding software. This unit includes the following: - 3500 DNA Genetic Analyzer - Ion Torrent PGM - ABI PRISM 7900HT Fast Sequence Detection Syste - 2720 thermocycler - 9800 Fast thermocycler - Verity 96-well thermocycler Hybridisation Oven - Agilent Scanner - Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer - NanoDrop ND-2000 spectrophotometer - Alpha Innotech ChemiImager.

The proteomics and interactomics unit includes equipment that is exclusively proteomics with the corresponding software, as follows. - Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer - NanoDrop ND-2000 spectrophotometer - EXQuest spot cutter: fast, hands-free gel excision - Ethan Dalt Six electrophoretic system - IPGPhor3 isoelectrofocusing unit - Bruker ImagePrep Unit (for MALDI imaging) - Leica Criostat (for MALDI imaging) - Bioplex 200 bead array instrument - Biacore 3000 analyser: Protein-molecule interaction service.

COS omics analyses are complemented by microscopy observations through a highly technical, well-equipped unit that includes the following: - Atomic force microscopy (AFM) - Confocal laser scanning microscopy - Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) - Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) - Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) - Raman microscopy FT-IR.

COS provides complementary services and facilities to complement experimental studies with cell culture, animal models and humans and meet potential challenges for omic science applications using in vitro and vivo models. This facility is well equipped and includes the following: -Cell culture rooms for cell culture, yeasts and other organisms, such as worms - In vivo laboratory - Animal house for small animals - Metabolic kitchen as well as interview and screening rooms.

Metabolomics is the core structure for COS withhuge investment in the latest technologies. COS is unique in Europe due to this unit and its biological approach to biochemical problems based on metabolomics. This unit includes the following equipment, which is complemented with the corresponding software. -Agilent 6490 with iFunnel technology Triple quadrupole LC/MS -Agilent 6550 iFunnel LC/MS Q-TOF -Agilent 6530 LC/MS Q-TOF -Agilent 7200 Q-TOF for GC/MS - Agilent Triple Quadrupole GC/MS - Leco GCxGC-TOFMS - Thermo Orbitrap Velos Pro - Bruker MALDI-TOF-TOF UltrafleXtrem -NMR 600 MHz Bruker Avance III spectrometer with a cryoprobe and SampleJet robot - NMR 500 MHz Bruker Avance III spectrometer coupled to an HR-MAS probe and X-PRESS Sample Changer Bravo and Gilson liquid handling robots.