The Ohio State University Medical Center offers more than 20 core research laboratories for shared use by health-sciences investigators. Clinical research faculty, basic scientists and students all benefit from the shared cost of these resources, and the research environment at Ohio State benefits from the economies of scale that enable timely acquisition of new instrumentation and technologies.
Analytical Cytometry – This laboratory, directed by Jeffrey Chalmers, PhD, is a joint venture between Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University’s Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute. It provides basic and clinical investigators with flow cytometric hardware and software for cell characterization and sorting. The laser-based technique can quantitate intracellular and extracellular properties of cells, bacteria, chromosomes and other biological particles. http://heartlung.osu.edu/flowcytometry/index.cfm
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) – The AFM Core is a resource of Ohio State’s Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute. The core provides high-resolution microscopy techniques that produce precise topographic images of a sample by scanning the surface with a nanometer-scale probe (lateral resolution ~ 1 nm, vertical ~ 0.1 nm). A unique AFM advantage is that it enables imaging in an air or liquid environment with minimal sample preparation. In the biomedical field, AFM is used to visualize single biomolecules, live or fixed cells, or tissues at nanoscale resolution without drying or coating them. The lab is directed by Gunjan Agarwal, PhD. http://heartlung.osu.edu/6161.cfm
Behavioral Measurement – This shared resource, led by Michael Slater, PhD, assists in integrating behavioral research into the broad research goals of Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. It also provides researchers in cancer prevention and control with population-based data retrieval, consultation for patient accrual procedures and locations, identification or adaptation of existing measures of key behavioral constructs, and guidance with behavioral data collection methodology and/ or personnel. http://www.behavioralm.osu.edu
Behavioral Phenotyping – This facility in the Biomedical Research Tower vivarium is led by Laura Bohn, PhD, and Matthew During, MD, PhD. It offers specialized equipment and collaborative expertise for monitoring an array of behavioral responses. A partial list of behaviors and monitoring equipment includes a multifunction video system for digital monitoring of operant and preference conditioning. Monitoring of diurnal patterns, locomotion, feeding, social interactions, learning and memory, anxiety and depression is also available. Many of these tasks can be accomplished through a newly purchased Clever Systems analysis suite. On-site training is available by appointment.
Biomedical Informatics – Computers play an ever-increasing role in the analysis of biologically derived data. Led by Joel Saltz, MD, PhD, and Jeff Parvin, MD, PhD, the Biomedical Informatics Core Laboratory applies distributed and parallel computing techniques to data retrieval and integration, imaging, simulation, medical informatics and computational biology. Its personnel also develop middleware and optimizations to enable Grid computing in the biological, medical and physical sciences. http://medicine.osu.edu/informatics/
Biostatistics Core – Led by David Jarjoura, PhD, this resource helps researchers identify collaborators for grant preparation, create and maintain databases, analyze data, develop methodologies and publish results. It assists them in all aspects of grant proposal development, experimental design, sample size determination, data management, statistical analysis, development and application of statistical methodologies, and manuscript preparation. http://www.biostatistics.osu.edu/
Campus Microscopy and Imaging Facility (CMIF) – The Campus Microscopy and Imaging Facility (CMIF), under director Richard Burry, PhD, serves University faculty, staff and students as well as researchers outside Ohio State. It offers a full range of microscopes, and support instrumentation allows cell and tissue preparation with immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, freeze-fracture, cryo-ultramicrotomy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. http://cmif.osu.edu
Center for Clinical and Translational Science's Clinical Research Center (CRC) – The CRC is funded by the National Center for Research Resources in the National Institutes for Health. The CRC provides indirect financial support to principal investigators for components essential to clinical research: hospitalization and ancillary laboratory costs, and salaries of key personnel, including nurses, research bionutritionists, administrators, core laboratory staff, biostatisticians and computer personnel. The program enables flexibility in the design, accessibility and scope of research. This facilitates rapid initiation of novel protocols and pilot studies. William Malarkey, MD, directs this core. http://crc.osu.edu/
Center for Knowledge Management – Ohio State’s Center for Knowledge Management (CKM), housed in the John A. Prior Health Sciences Library, is one of the nation’s most comprehensive repositories of global biomedical knowledge and intellectual capital. The CKM provides cost-effective access to biomedical knowledge, identifies and makes available knowledge and key research findings, expedites packaging of information content as reusable and sharable resources, facilitates understanding and helps incorporate information resources into work processes. The interim director for this resource is Susan Kroll, MLS. http://ckm.osu.edu/
Clinical Trials Office (CTO) – The CTO, under the leadership of James Thomas, MD, PhD, facilitates development and implementation of all Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center clinical trials, including regulatory processing, subject recruitment, data collection and protocol-management services. http://www.jamesline.com/trials/Pages/index.aspx
Comparative Pathology & Mouse Phenotyping Shared Resource (CPMPSR) – Researchers using animal models of human cancer receive clinical and anatomic pathology support from this resource directed by Krista La Perle, DVM, PhD. Services include comprehensive macroscopic and microscopic examinations of various species of laboratory animals with an emphasis on the phenotypic characterization of newly produced lines of genetically engineered mice. Additional services include hematology, clinical chemistry, radiography, routine frozen and paraffin slide preparation as well as tissue microarray preparation and special histochemical and immunohistochemical staining. In addition, the CPMPSR provides a referral service to experienced scientists within the OSU research community providing expertise in animal model development, experimental design, optimal sample collection, and data interpretation. http://www.vet.ohio-state.edu/255.htm
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) – The EPR Core is a resource of Ohio State’s Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute. The core offers magnetic resonance technology for detection, quantification and visualization of free radicals in biological systems. The method is routinely used to measure free radicals such as superoxide, hydroxyl and nitric oxide in chemical/biochemical biological systems. EPR also enables measurement and imaging of physiologically pertinent tissue parameters such as tissue perfusion, oxygenation, metabolism, redox state, viability and pH using appropriate spin probes. The lab is directed by Periannan Kuppusamy, PhD.
Laser Microdissection Pressure Catapulting Molecular Analysis Facility – Led by Sashwati Roy, PhD, this facility contains a robotized PALM MicroLaser system with PALM MicroBeam and PALM RoboStage/RoboMover for high throughput sample collection. Procurement of another device, specifically directed at community service, is in process. The facility enables molecular analyses of laser captured tissue material. Services include standardization of novel techniques related to tissue processing, staining, fixation and capture, with the goal of preserving nucleic acid and protein integrity of the laser-captured tissue. Capture and analysis of tissue down to the resolution of a single cell population (cutting precision 0.6 micron) from in vivo tissue sections is routinely performed. In addition, the facility can rapidly identify and capture human blood vessels from clinical samples in a manner that makes high-density screening of the transcriptome possible.
Leukemia Tissue Bank – Directed in 2007 by Clara D. Bloomfield, MD, this resource provides a central collection, processing and repository for samples collected from leukemia patients treated on Ohio State University protocols. These samples are available to investigators within Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center and to outside collaborators who examine cellular and molecular properties of leukemia. http://www.osuccc.osu.edu/11167.cfm
Microarray – The Microarray resource, directed by Carlo Croce, MD, offers genome-wide analysis of multiple genes using Affymetrix GeneChips. Services include mRNA transcriptional profiling, microRNA/non-coding small RNA transcriptional profiling, single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping, genomic DNA gain/loss detection on BAC CGH Array, microRNA genomic gain/loss on oligo CGH array, consultation, RNA characterization, microarray processing and data analysis. http://www.osuccc.osu.edu/microarray
MicroMD – A premier microfabrication facility for developing bioMEMS devices (microelectromechanical systems), the Ohio MicroMD Laboratory facilitates a range of research and development activities and is the nation’s first technologically integrated facility dedicated to developing therapeutic applications for BioMEMS. This core is led by Robert Davis, PhD.
Microscopy – The Microscopy Core Lab in Ohio State’s Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute provides technology to visualize minute details of the subcellular organization of living cells and tissues. In addition to fluorescent microscopes fully equipped for optimized magnification, time-lapse video microscopy and multichannel visualization, the lab offers other instrumentation, including multiphoton confocal microscopy that allows investigators to probe delicate living cells or tissues longer and deeper without damaging samples. This lab is directed by Sandor Gyorke, PhD.http://heartlung.osu.edu/microscopy/
Molecular Cytogenetics – Directed by Nyla Heerema, PhD, the Molecular Cytogenetics Shared Resource provides molecular cytogenetic technology and classical banded metaphase cytogenetics. Services include metaphase karyotyping of human and mouse tissue, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using many different types of probes and tissues, and multicolor spectral karyotyping (SKY). http://www.cytogenetics.osu.edu/
Nucleic Acid – This resource, led by Hansjurg Alder, PhD, provides instrumentation and expertise for DNA sequencing, genotyping, real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), RNA/ DNA extraction, imaging and DNA synthesis support. It also consults and assists in experimental design, supports development of methodologies and applications relevant to cancer research, and functions as a training and education center. www.osuccc.osu.edu/9168.cfm
Pharmacoanalytical – This resource is a decentralized facility in the College of Pharmacy. Two LC/MS systems are available for quantitation of analytes and identification of metabolites in biological matrices. This equipment is primarily used for quantitation of parent drug and metabolites in clinical specimens. This resource is led by technical director A. Mitch Phelps, PhD. www.osuccc.osu.edu/psr/
Pharmacogenomics – Led by Wolfgang Sadée, Dr.rer.nat., the Core Laboratory of Ohio State’s Program in Pharmacogenomics supports intermediate scale genotyping for use in clinical association studies. Genotyping panels covering nearly 1,000 polymorphisms are available, targeting genes implicated in cancer, cardiovascular and central nervous system disorders, as well as drug metabolism and transport. The Core Laboratory also has developed a rapid approach for discovery of functional polymorphisms in candidate genes as potential markers for assessing disease and therapy outcomes. http://amcfp.osu.edu/index.cfm
Proteomics – A shared resource of Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Proteomics Lab provides researchers with instrumentation, expertise and services needed to identify proteins, protein modifications and protein biomarkers in biological samples. It can identify proteins from 1D and 2D gels using electrophoresis and imaging equipment, robotic sample handlers and mass spectrometers. The lab is directed by Kari Green-Church, PhD. http://www.ccic.ohio-state.edu/MS/
Small Animal Imaging – This multidisciplinary resource, directed by Periannan Kuppusamy, PhD, provides in vivo imaging of molecular, metabolic and physiologic processes in small animal models of cancer. During the past year, the AVANCETM 500 WB NMR Spectrometer and Imaging System from Bruker BioSpin (Germany) was purchased, installed and calibrated for imaging measurements. The state-of-the-art system operates at 500 MHz and uses a shielded superconducting magnet (11.7 T) with an 8.9-cm diameter vertical bore. periannan.kuppusamy@osumc.edu
Tissue Procurement – This resource procures and provides researchers with malignant and normal tissues from solid tumors. Under the direction of Scott Jewell, PhD, Tissue Procurement staff provide quality control of the research specimen and interact with pathologists and investigators to assist in procurement of tissues and to foster hypothesisdriven cancer research. http://www.osuccc.osu.edu/9797.cfm
Transgenic Animal Facility – Led by Anthony Young, PhD, and Gail Herman, MD, PhD, this facility provides transgenic mice and other related services to the Ohio State biomedical research community. The facility is jointly operated by the Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Laboratory Animal Resources and Columbus Children’s Research Institute; http://transgeniccore.ccri.ws/index.asp
X-ray Crystallography – This shared resource, led by Charles Bell, PhD, houses equipment and computational resources for collecting single crystal macromolecular X-ray diffraction data for determining X-ray crystal structures of proteins and other macromolecules at atomic resolution. Cryogenic devices are available for low-temperature data collection.
Affiliated Core
Viral Vector Core – The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Viral Vector Core produces research-grade retroviral and lentiviral vectors, generates stable producer lines, and offers non-GMP quality control testing, including vector titer by functional assay or PCR, mycoplasma, sterility, RCR and RCL testing. Retrovirus for clinical application is produced in the Vector Production Facility, a validated cleanroom for producing viral vectors for phase I/II clinical studies. This core is led by Han van der Loo, PhD. www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/cores/vvc