Translational Technologies and Resources
Core Facilities Description
Click on one of the following links to read about Additional Research Resources:
Center for Translational Neuroscience
NIH
NCRR Center for Protein Structure & Function at the University of
Arkansas, Fayetteville
UAMS Core Facilities' Descriptions
Biodosimetry Diagnostic
This Biodosimetry Diagnostic Core offers high-throughput analytical services for determining diagnostic amino acids and their precursors or metabolic products. Available biomarkers include citruilline and tetrahydrobiopterin.
For more information contact:
Howard Hendrickson
Email: HendricksonHowardP@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 603-1547
Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Imaging
The Xenogen IVIS Imaging System is a highly sensitive CCD camera optimized for biophotonic imaging (e.g. in vitro and in vivo assays) using reporter cells tagged for bioluminescence and/or fluorescence.
For more information contact:
Bill Hogue
Email: bhogue@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 686-8911
Biotelemetry
The Biotelemetry Core offers continuous monitoring of cardiovascular parameters including blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiogram, etc. in rodents. This involves surgical implantation of transmitters (service) and data acquisition via associated hardware and software (instrumentation). Biotelemetry provides continuous monitoring of unrestrained animals, as opposed to older methods of blood pressure measurement, which involve periodic measurement in restrained animals. Devices measuring body temperature and biopotentials, including electrocardiogram, also exist for use with the system.
For more information contact:
Jesse Lui
Email: liushi@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 686-8106
Crystallography Core Facility
The Crystallography Core offers services
related to determining the protein structure, investigating the
molecular basis of the diseases and designing drugs.
For more information contact:
Kottayil Varughese, PhD
E-mail:
kivarughese@uams.edu
Phone: 501-686-7159
Digital Microscopy Laboratory
This facility operates and maintains computer controlled
microscope workstations covering the range from light to electron
microcopy. Three Zeiss fluorescence microscopes are available: a LSM
510 laser scanning confocal microscope, a AxioImager upright
microscope with differential interference contrast (DIC) and
polarization capabilities, and a Axiovert S100TV inverted microscope
capable of static and time lapse (e.g. minutes to days) imaging of
living cells. A full range of sample preparation equipment for
electron microscopy is available. Leica equipment includes a EMPACT
II high pressure freezer, a Leica freeze substitution apparatus, and
a UltraCut 7 microtome with cryo-attachment. There is a FEI Vitrobot
for controlled plunge freezing of samples. The electron microscope
is a FEI Tecani F20 with cryobox and compustage.
For more information contact:
Brian Storrie
Email: storriebrian@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 526-7418
DNA Damage and Toxicology
The DNA Damage and Toxicology Facility provides expertise/instrumentation to perform DNA damage and toxicology studies related to toxic or hypoxic tissue/cell injury in drug development, diseases or aging. In addition to offering standard assays for cytotoxicity (e.g., TUNEL or Comet assays), the facility helps investigators measure oxidative damage and quantify levels of apoptosis and necrosis in cells and tissues by using quantitative cytochemistry, immuno-cytochemistry techniques, and 3-D imaging.
For more information contact:
Alexei G. Basnakian
Email: basnakianalexeig@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 352-2870
DNA Sequencing
The DNA Sequencing Facility uses a 3100 Genetic Analyzer (capillary technology) to provide DNA sequencing for plasmids and PCR products. A Qiagen cabinet is also present in the lab to provide select DNA and RNA isolation kits.
For more information contact:
Allen Gies
Email: giesallenj@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 686-6927
Experimental Pathology
The Experimental Pathology Shared Resource provides centralized, comprehensive histological services, with convenient access to all services within one facility. Stringent quality control standards are maintained with GLP compliance upon request. The laboratory director, consultants, and technicians have extensive experience in routine histology and immunohistochemistry involving both human and animal tissues. Services include: processing and embedding of tissues, frozen and paraffin-embedded tissue sections, routine staining, a wide range of special histochemical stains, immunohistochemisrty, veterinary pathology consultation, and digital slide scanning and analysis using the Aperio Scanscope.
For more information contact:
Leah Hennings
email: lhennings@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 526-7624
Microbiology and Immunology Flow
The Microbiology and Immunology Flow Cytometry Facilities provide researchers with an immensely powerful and diverse tool to measure multiple physical characteristics of individual cells in suspension. The flow cytometer can indicate relative cell size and density or complexity by measuring forward- and side-scattered laser light, respectively. In addition, the flow cytometer can measure relative fluorescence from fluorescent probes which bind to specific cell-associated molecules.
For more information contact:
Andrea Harris
email: aharris@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 686-5145
Pharmacogenomics
The Pharmacogenomics Facility provides gene expression including microRNA, for human, mouse/rat samples using Bead expression chips and BeadArray Reader. SNP chips are also performed (e.g., 1 million human SNPs and numerous CNVs can be detected with the 1 M-duo human SNP chip). The core has a dedicated Tecan Robot for post-processing of Infinium SNP Chips. The Illumina Genome Analyzer is a high-end sequencer and can be used for direct sequencing of any genome/cDNA library. The BeadXpress Reader works with Veracode technology resulting in high throughput and muliplex detection of SNPs, gene expression, and protein detection from a custom design. A QIAextractor robot performs extraction from any Qiagen kit.
For more information contact:
Marjorie L. Beggs
email: beggsmarjoriel@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 296-1504 X1835
Proteomics
The Proteomics Facility provides mass spectrometric analysis and identification of proteins. It is equipped with a Thermo LTQ XL linear ion trap mass spectrometer with electron transfer dissociation capability, a PerkinElmer SCIEX MALDI-prOTOF mass spectrometer, a Waters Q-Tof Micro tandem mass spectrometer and a Thermo LTQ linear ion trap mass spectrometer. Additional gel band analysis equipment includes a ProPic imaging and spot-picking robot from Genomic Solutions, a ProGest in-gel enzymatic digestion robot from Genomic Solutions, and a Bio-Rad 2D gel electrophoresis system.
For more information contact:
Sam Mackintosh
email: mackintoshsamuelg@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 526-5978
Radiological Imaging
The MicroPET Facility consists of a Siemens FOCUS MicroPET that can produce whole body or regional PET images of animals ranging in size from mice to small dogs; and can image the head and appendages of human subjects. An on-site cyclotron and a fully staffed Radiochemistry Laboratory provide a wide range of PET markers for research projects involving PET imaging. Custom PET Markers can also be developed in collaboration with the facility's staff.
For more information contact:
Director: Michael J. Borrelli
email: mjborelli@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 526-5897
Manager: Terri L. Alpe
email: alpeterril@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 590-0457
Skeletal Phenotyping
Performs high resolution skeletal imaging and analysis utilizing bone densitometry (DXA), perpipheral quantitated computed tomography (pQCT) or micro CT (uCT). Skeletons can be analyzed in vivo or ex vivo. When combined with histological evaluation, detailed insight into skeletal phenotype is obtained.
For more information contact:
Larry J. Suva
email: suvalarryj@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 526-6110
Tissue Procurement Facility
The Tissue Procurement Facility is a UAMS-wide tissue procurement facility, coordinating/overseeing the donation, processing, storage, and dissemination of tissue specimens and related data for all UAMS researchers. Our inventory includes human tissues, serum, and bone marrow mononuclear cell extracts, with plans to bank urine and other fluid products. Our database is managed using caTissue, an online-accessible biorepository software. caTissue is part of caBIG, an NIH-sponsored information network enabling the cancer community to share data and knowledge. Our database can be searched using pathological and clinical parameters.
For more information contact:
Remelle Eggerson
email: rmeggerson@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 686-7470
Transgenic
The Transgenic Facility generates transgenic mice via pronuclear microinjection of DNA constructs supplied by users. Microinjections are performed in embryos obtained from C57BL/6 or CB6F1 (a cross between BALB/c and C57BL/6) mice. Personnel are also available for consultation regarding DNA construct design and animal husbandry.
For more information contact:
Charles O'Brien
email: caobrien@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 686-5607
Joseph Goellner
email: jjgoellner@uams.edu
Telephone: (501) 940-7264 |
