BU Clinical and Translational Science Institute Core Facilities

Summary (PowerPoint)

1.  ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTATION CORE

Director: Lynn Deng, PhD

The Analytical Instrumentation Core has a variety of commonly used instrumentation to support basic and translational research, including a gel image analyzer, nanodrop spectrophotometer, etc.

2.  ANIMAL RESEARCH RESOURCE CENTER

Director: Katya Ravid, DSc/PhD

The BUMC Animal Research Resource Center (ARRC) consists of four units: Animal Metabolic Phenotyping Core, Micro-Ultrasound Imaging Core, Whole Mouse Imaging Core and Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell and Cryopreservation Core. The Center has state-of-the-art instrumentation for metabolic phenotyping and whole body imaging including an EchoMRI900, Visualsonics Vevo 770, and a Xenogen IVIS Spectrum, an optical in vivo imaging system.

3.  BIOMEDICAL IMAGING CENTER

Director: Ronald Killiany, PhD

The Biomedical Imaging Center is equipped with an advanced 3T MRI scanner and compatible eye tracker instruments for functional, structural and spectroscopic studies in humans and animals.

4.  BIOSPECIMEN ARCHIVE RESEARCH CORE

Director: Robert Pistey, MD

The BUMC Biospecimen Archive Research Core banks tissue specimens obtained with IRB approval. It is fully HIPAA compliant and can provide coded or uncoded specimens to investigators who have individual IRB approval. Samples are stored in low temperature freezers with liquid nitrogen backup, alarms, and state-of-the-art sample and data security.

5.  BU CTSI CLINICAL ASSAY CORE

Director: Tai Chen, PhD

The CTSI Assay Core performs esoteric biomarker assays using RIA, ELISA, and HPLC technologies. The Core is equipped with a ELISA plate washer and reader system, Agilent HPLC 1200 and radio-isotope counters, etc.

6.  CELLULAR IMAGING CORE

Directors: Orian Shirihai, PhD and Michael Kirber, PhD

The Cellular Imaging Core is equipped with advanced optical microscopes for digital imaging of live cells and tissues, including a Zeiss LSM710-Live Duo, Nikon DeconvolutionWide-Field Epifluorescence System, Olympus DSU and others, allowing digital imaging of live cells and tissues

7.  CONFOCAL FACILITY

Director: Vickery Trinkaus-Randall, PhD

The Confocal Facility is equipped with a Zeiss LSM 100M with associated flow through apparatus, a Zeiss LSM 200M with environmental chamber for long -term imaging of live cells, tissues, and a Zeiss LSM 700 for similar purposes that has solid state lasers. There is also an Epi-Fluorescence microscope system available.

8.  CONFOCAL FACILITY

Director: Vickery Trinkaus-Randall, PhD

The Confocal Facility is equipped with a Zeiss LSM 100M with associated flow through apparatus, a Zeiss LSM 200M with environmental chamber for long -term imaging of live cells, tissues, and a Zeiss LSM 700 for similar purposes that has solid state lasers. There is also an Epi-Fluorescence microscope system available.

9.  FLOW CYTOMETRY CORE

Directors: David Sherr, PhD, and Gerald Denis, PhD

The Flow Cytometry Core provides cell cycle analysis and cell sorting, and is equipped with 3 FACScan analyzers, 1 FACSCalibur analyzer, an LSRII analyzer, and a MoFlo cell sorter. Three computer workstations running state-of-the-art data analysis software are available. Assisted and unassisted use is available.

10. HIGH THROUGHPUT SCREENING CORE

Director: Sarah Haigh Molina, PhD

The High Throughput Screening Core provides function-based and target-based screening for small molecule modulators or biomarkers. The major facilities include Tecan Spectrafluor Plus, Personal pipettor, and ELX50 Auto Strip Washer.

11.  ILLUMINA SEQUENCING CORE

Director:  James Galagan, PhD

The Illumina Sequencing Core has a Genome Analyzer Lix for deep sequencing of DNA and RNA.

12. IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY CORE

Director: Xuemei Zhong, PhD

The IHC Core has a Shandon Hypercenter XP tissue processor and embedding equipment, InteliPath automated slide stainer, microtome, and decloaking chamber for performing immuno-histochemistry analyses and methods development.

13. MICROARRAY RESOURCE CORE

Director: Yuriy Alekseyev, PhD and Marc Lenburg, PhD

The Microarray Resource Core is equipped with an Affymetrix Gene Chip System for mRNA and miRNA expression profiling, and exon, genotyping, resequencing and tiling arrays. Bioinformatics consultation is available.

14. MOLECULAR GENETICS CORE

Director: Lindsay Farrer, PhD

The Molecular Genetics Core provides multiple high throughput services for clinical and basic research including (1) tissue specimen processing and storage; (2) DNA extraction, amplification, and Sanger sequencing; (3) assay-based genotyping; and (4) creation, maintenance and storage of lymphoblastoid cell lines.  The Core uses robotics, a Real Time PCR system, and bar-code labeling to promote high throughput.

15. PROTEOMICS CORE

Director: Martin Steffen, MD, PhD

The Proteomics Core utilizes a ThermoFinnigan LTQ ProteomeX ion trap mass spectrometer to identify proteins and peptides in biological samples.

16. TRANSGENIC CORE

Director: Katya Ravid, DSc/PhD

TheTransgenic Center is fully equipped to assist investigators with the generation of transgenic and knockout mice. Facilities include equipment for microinjection, micromanipulators, cell culture and storage, and cryopreservation.

Other resources at BUMC

• Laboratory Animal Sciences Center
• Mass Spectrometry Resource
• Physiology and Biophysics Departmental Resources
• Proteoglycan and Glycosaminoglycan Structure Laboratory
• Systems Molecular Signaling and Chemical Biology Laboratory
• Framingham Heart Study
• Boston Nutrition Obesity Research Center Core

BU Charles River Campus

• Biomedical Optics Laboratory
• Center for Chemical Methodology and Library Development
• Center for Nanoscience and Nanobiotechnology
• Electronics  Design Facility
• Fraunhofer Center for Manufacturing Innovation
• High Performance Computing and Communications Facilities
• Photonics Center
• Scientific Instruments Facility