Dear AGORA members,
Please find below the organizational details for AGORA scientific platforms and services during the upcoming Christmas holiday period, starting on the evening of Friday, December 19th, 2025. Normal operations will resume for most services on Monday, January 5th, 2026. Please consult the specific schedules for each platform and service below.
Scientific Platforms
The Flow Cytometry Facility (FCF)
The FCF will be officially closed from 6:00 pm on Friday, December 19th, 2025, to 12:00 pm on Monday, January 5th, 2026. During this time:
– No FCF support, training, or repair organization will be available.
– Sorting Service: Suspended. Please plan your experiments accordingly.
– Analytical Flow Cytometers: All analytical instruments will remain accessible to experienced users with valid access cards. However, no staff will be available for troubleshooting or help with experiment setup. Bookings should be made via the PPMS booking system.
– For inquiries, please contact Mr. Danny Labes at
The In Vivo Imaging Facility (IVIF)
The IVIF will remain open during the holidays for trained users on all instruments.
– From Thursday, December 25th, 2025, until Monday, January 5th, 2026, there will be no on-site support or training.
– For inquiries, please contact Dr. Alexandre Benechet at
The AGORA In Vivo Center (AIVC)
As usual, the AIVC animal facility will operate without interruption.
– Ms. Isabelle Grandjean will be away from the site from the evening of Thursday, December 18th, 2025, until the morning of Wednesday, January 7th, 2026.
– For inquiries, please contact Ms. Isabelle Grandjean at
The Histology Facility (HF)
– The platform will remain accessible for self-service by experienced users with valid access cards.
– On Thursday, December 18th, Friday, December 19th, Monday, December 29th, and Tuesday, December 30th, 2025, there will be no on-site support or training.
– For inquiries, please contact Ms. Véronique Noguet at
The Cellular Imaging Facility (CIF)
The platform will be closed from Wednesday, December 24th, 2025, and will reopen on Monday, January 5th, 2026.
– During this time, systems will not be accessible, and no on-site support will be available.
– For inquiries, please contact Dr. Luigi Bozzo at
The Bioengineering & Organoids Technology Platform (BET)
– The BET platform will be closed from Friday evening, December 19th, 2025, and will reopen on Monday, January 5th, 2026, without on-site support.
– The platform will remain accessible for self-service by experienced users with valid access cards during this period. Please contact staff members in advance if you plan to use any equipment.
– For inquiries, please contact Dr. Gaspard Pardon at
Core Services
IT Services
The AGORA IT service will be closed from Wednesday, December 24th, 2025, at 4:00 pm, until Monday, January 5th, 2026.
– During this period, users should contact the IT service of their respective institution for support:
– CHUV: Email – Phone 021 31 46 122
– EPFL: Email – Helpdesk SV-IT: 021 693 96 37
– HUG & UNIGE: Website https://dw.unige.ch/dwp/app – Phone 022 379 43 00
– UNIL: Email – FBM IT: 021 692 5094
– For AGORA-specific inquiries, please contact Mr. Fabrice Erard at
Administrative Services
For any new request (new collaborator badge access, etc.), please submit your request before Monday, December 15th, 2025 to ensure access can be organized on time to
– Starting from January 1st, 2026, please use the generic email address
Logistics Services
Logistics services will operate without interruption during the holiday period.
– To prevent items requiring +4°C / -20°C / -80°C storage from being held by carriers without proper refrigeration/freezing facilities during the holidays, it is recommended to place final orders with suppliers by Monday, December 15th, 2025.
– For inquiries, please contact Ms. Beija Nicole at or Mr. Didier Fernandez at
Washing and Sterilization Services & Laboratory Solutions Production Platform
Both the washing/sterilization/biological waste service and the laboratory solutions production platform will be closed from Wednesday afternoon, December 24th, 2025, and will reopen on Monday, January 5th, 2026. They will operate with minimal maintenance services during this time.
– Solution order deadline: Wednesday, December 17th, 2025.
– For inquiries, please contact Ms. Elzbieta Lipinska at
Additional Information
The ISREC Foundation
Reception closed from Friday, December 19th, 2025, at 4:30 pm, reopening Monday, January 12th, 2026, at 8:00 am
Restaurant “Le Lab”
Closed from Friday, December 19th, 2025, at 1:45 pm, reopening Monday, January 5th, 2026.
Microsynth Sequencing Services
– Last pick-up: Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025
– Reopening: Monday, January 5th, 2026
Details: www.microsynth.com
Distex Services
– Last pick-up for dry ice, BSL1, and BSL2 materials: Monday, December 22nd, 2025
– Reopening: Monday, January 5th, 2026
Emergency Numbers
– Biological accidents: 021 31 40 275
– Firefighters: 021 31 49 118
– Security: 021 31 49 117
– Urgent technical repairs: 021 31 48 133
