The Platform for Research and Analysis in Environmental Sciences (PRASE), hosted at the Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology (EDST) of the Lebanese University, is a multidisciplinary, ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited infrastructure providing advanced analytical, molecular, and environmental research capabilities. It is designed as an integrated research environment supporting studies at the interface of environment, food systems, and human health.
PRASE is organized into four complementary laboratories covering environmental and water analysis, food safety and contaminant analysis, molecular biology and biomarker profiling, and cellular and immunological studies. This structure enables a complete analytical chain, from environmental sampling and contaminant detection to molecular and biological response assessment.
The platform is equipped with a comprehensive suite of high end analytical instrumentation, including LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS systems for ultra-trace detection of pesticides, toxins, pharmaceuticals, and organic pollutants, as well as ICP-OES and AAS for elemental and heavy metal analysis. HPLC systems with multiple detectors further support detailed food composition and quality assessment.
In addition, PRASE includes advanced spectroscopic and structural characterization tools such as FTIR and XRD, enabling precise molecular and material level analysis. These technologies strengthen the platform’s capacity for comprehensive environmental and food-related investigations.
On the molecular and biological side, the platform integrates digital PCR, BioPlex multiplex immunoassays, flow cytometry, and advanced imaging systems, allowing high sensitivity biomarker detection, molecular profiling, and immunological analysis relevant to environmental exposure and health outcomes.
A digital laboratory management system is developed to enhance sample traceability, workflow automation, equipment monitoring, and data integration, further strengthening the platform’s efficiency and standardization.
The platform is affiliated with the Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology (EDST) and integrates nine faculties of the Lebanese University, including sciences, engineering, medical sciences, public health, and agriculture, fostering strong interdisciplinary collaboration across multiple scientific domains.
PRASE hosts PhD researchers, master’s students, and postgraduate trainees, providing advanced training and hands-on experience in analytical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, environmental sciences, and biomarker analysis. It plays a key role in strengthening scientific capacity building within the university.
In addition to its academic mission, PRASE functions as a national research and service hub, offering high-level analytical services to both public and private sectors, particularly in environmental monitoring, food safety analysis, and contaminant detection.
The platform has actively contributed to multiple national and international research projects and collaborative programs, reinforcing its role as a regional scientific reference center. These collaborations have resulted in significant scientific output across environmental, food, and health-related domains.
PRASE is also associated with a strong and continuously growing scientific production, with a dozen peerreviewed publications per year on average linked to its infrastructure, expertise, and research activities. These publications reflect its multidisciplinary focus and its contribution to advancing knowledge in environmental sciences, food safety, and molecular diagnostics.
Overall, PRASE represents a fully integrated environment, food and health platform it as a leading regional infrastructure supporting high impact research, innovation, and analytical services in environmental and food related sciences.
The collaboration integrates PRASE, a public research platform of the Lebanese University, within an international consortium working on food safety, quality, and traceability in Mediterranean food systems. The aim is to support the development of reliable, data driven solutions through advanced scientific analysis of environmental contaminants and food safety indicators.
The international partner brings strong expertise in digital traceability systems, data integration, and innovation in agri food value chains. PRASE complements this expertise with advanced laboratory capabilities in environmental monitoring, contaminant analysis, and food safety validation.
A key strength of PRASE is its status as a public university platform embedded within the Lebanese University and its established cooperation with national authorities, including the Ministry of Public Health, particularly in analytical and diagnostic domains. This ensures strong institutional credibility, access to national datasets, and direct linkage between research and public health applications.
Within the project, PRASE will contribute analytical validation, data generation, and methodological harmonization across environmental and food matrices, ensuring the scientific reliability of project outcomes. It will also support training and knowledge exchange activities with international partners.
Overall, the collaboration is based on strong complementarity between international digital expertise and PRASE’s validated public sector analytical capacity, ensuring robust and impactful results for sustainable food systems.
The collaboration integrates PRASE, a public research platform of the Lebanese University, within an international consortium working on food safety, traceability, and sustainable agrifood systems in the Mediterranean region. The aim is to support data-driven solutions through advanced analysis of environmental contaminants, food quality, and alternative feed systems.
The international partner contributes expertise in digital traceability, data integration, and innovation in food value chains, while PRASE provides strong analytical capacity in environmental monitoring, contaminant detection, and food safety validation.
PRASE’s status as a public university platform, with established collaboration with national authorities including the Ministry of Public Health, ensures strong institutional credibility, access to national data, and linkage between research and public health applications.
The platform will also support the assessment of sustainable and alternative animal feeds within circular farming systems by evaluating contamination risks and ensuring feed safety and quality.
Overall, the collaboration is based on strong complementarity between international digital expertise and PRASE’s validated analytical capacities, ensuring robust and impactful results for sustainable Mediterranean food systems.
