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The University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center offers a wide variety of core capabilities for both basic science and clinical research. These facilities offer scientists access to state-of-the-art technology and support for their research. In addition to facilities located on the Academic Health Center's main campus and the Genome Research Institute, researchers also have access to many of the core facilities hosted by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the Children's Hospital Research Foundation.
Following is a sample of core research capabilities offered to both UC faculty and qualified external investigators. For more information about all of UC's core facilities, contact the College of Medicine research and graduate education office at (513) 558-7340.
Expression TechnologyBioinformatics: The Bioinformatics core seeks to exploit the extraordinary insights being gained from large-scale genome sequencing projects. This core creates advanced scientific discovery and management software, provides ongoing bioinformatics and biomedical engineering training for staff and students, and offers strategic guidance related to the impact of computation systems and data on research.
Genomics: The Genomics core facility offers microarray services for UC and Cincinnati Children's investigators. This core facility has capabilities for microspotting commercial and custom DNA libraries, target labeling and hybridization, and scanning and data analysis. This core also provides education on technology and advice on methodologies and controls, and serves as a repository for libraries, amplified DNAs and microarray slides.
Proteomics: This core focuses on identification of proteins and protein complexes that play important roles in normal biology and disease. Proteins are the most common targets for drugs, so they are of interest for both basic research and drug development. The Proteomics core uses 2-D gel electrophoresis to separate individual proteins from mixtures and mass spectrometry to identify the protein.
GeneralBiological Containment: This Biological Containment core facility is available for research on Biosafety Level-3 pathogens. The facility features four research laboratories, animal facilities, select agent and toxin registration and a multi-tiered security system.
DNA Sequencing and Oligonucleotide Synthesis: This core facility has capabilities for synthesis and purification of oligonucleotides, nucleotide sequence analysis, contig assembly, sequencing template preparation and mouse and human genotyping.
Fly and Zebrafish Facilities: The fly and zebrafish core facilities support a range of research and provide investigators with models that have enough similarity to humans to be used for developmental and disease-based projects. Flies and fish can be modified by genetic, surgical or other techniques to simulate human disease. These simpler animals can be used as screens before proceeding to murine or human testing and have the significant advantage of lower cost and much shorter generation times.
General Clinical Research Center: The General Clinical Research Center, located at Cincinnati Children's, is devoted to the study and treatment of complex childhood and adult diseases. This research core provides facilities and resources for inpatient and outpatient research, including program administration, clinical services, nutrition research services, behavioral core services, biostatistical and informatics services, and laboratory services.
Imaging Research Center: The Imaging Research Center is operated by the Children's Hospital Research Foundation and the radiation department at Cincinnati Children's. This core provides access to state-of-the-art MRI research instrumentation and diagnostic imaging technologies related to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in children and young adults. An in vivo microimaging laboratory is also available for micro and molecular imaging in models of pediatric disease.
Inhalation: The Inhalation core supports research on inhalation hazards and aerosols.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance: The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance core provides support for the determination of solution structures and structural dynamics of macromolecules.
Protein Production: Larger quantities of proteins are needed by researchers who want to evaluate the structure or functionality of these materials. The Protein Production facility can be used to isolate, characterize and produce proteins using fermentation techniques.
Flow Cytometry Flow Cytometry: The Flow Cytometry core provides analytical flow cytometry of cells in suspension.
Mass SpectrometryClinical Mass Spectrometry Center: The Clinical Mass Spectrometry Center, located at Cincinnati Children's, provides an analytical resource that focuses on the application of mass spectrometry and allied chromatographic approaches to the analysis of complex biological samples.
MicroscopyBiological Microscopy: The Center for Biologic Microscopy assists researchers in generating high-resolution, high-quality, microscopy-based data for publications and presentation at professional venues. This core has both confocal and widefield microscopy capabilities. In addition, researchers also have access to transmission electron microscopy and image analysis and output software.
Electron Microscopy: The Electron Microscopy core facility prepares and examines ultra-thin tissue sections.
Live Microscopy: The Live Microscopy core facility has two advanced-light microscopes optimized for work with living cells and tissues. All data is automatically backed up after every user session to a remote computer that allows users password-controlled access to archived data.
Schubert Electron Microscopy: The Schubert Electron Microscopy core facility at Cincinnati Children's provides ultrastructural examination of tissue.
Mice, Transgenic MiceGene-Targeted Mouse Service: The Gene-Targeted Mouse Service works with researchers to target mouse genes in embryonic stem cells for gene deletions or mutations. This core facility provides microinjection of targeted embryonic stem cells into mouse blastocysts for the production of mice carrying gene deletions or mutations.
Mouse Pulmonary Function: The Mouse Pulmonary Function core facility uses noninvasive techniques to obtain pulmonary measurements in conscious mice.
Small Animal Heart: Cellular Electrophysiology, Pharmacology and Physiology: The Small Animal Heart core facility consults and carries out contemporary pharmacology, physiology and cellular electrophysiology studies on isolated preparations.
Transgenic Mouse: The Transgenic Mouse core facility specializes in the production of transgenic mice bearing exogenous genes.
Transgenic Mouse Physiology: The Transgenic Mouse Physiology core facility analyzes a variety of physiological (cardiac, renal, pulmonary) functions in intact transgenic mice and develops new technologies and instrumentation.
Tissue BankTissue Procurement: The Tissue Procurement core facility provides researchers with frozen tissue samples.
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