Research Service Core
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- Director
- William E. O'Neill, Ph.D.
- Co-Director
- Lizabeth M. Romanski, Ph.D.
The laboratories of the CNCS are technologically sophisticated and automated. Further, the faculty is primarily engaged in cellular to behavioral neurophysiology. These attributes form a common need for technical services across the Center. The RSC provides key services through a Histology & Imaging Unit, and an Electronic & Mechanical Shop. This Core implements a high quality and accessible set of services to the faculty that enhances the productivity of our research and stimulates interactions across laboratories.
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Histology & Imaging Unit
This Unit provides tissue preparation, image analysis, and image reconstruction technologies. All investigators in the Core-Center have a need for histology, and yet the need does not justify full-time commitments within each lab. A collective solution is ideal. An additional component of the Unit is an imaging facility, including a wet darkroom as well as a digital darkroom and a series of sophisticated microscope/imaging systems based upon the NeuroLucida and Image-Pro applications.
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Electronic & Mechanical Shop
All of our labs require equipment repair and maintenance over time, modifications dictated by experimental needs, and the construction of novel electronic and mechanical components on a semi-regular basis. The CNCS enhances the Shop's capabilities and capacity, particularly in its electronic service facility. New automated design and construction technologies have increased service required to support their new research programs and laboratories in our growing community.
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Animal Research Unit
This Unit has been formulated to support animal purchase, husbandry, record-keeping and tracking of animals through protocols, and basic physiological and diagnostic screening of mouse and other rodent populations (e.g. mutant, knockout) in a manner that exceeds services through vivarium staff. Analogous to the cooperative partnerships that exist in our original two RSC Units, the ARU will likewise exploit the advantages of shared resources, in this case with the NIA-P01's existing Animal Core.
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Proteomics Unit
This Unit will provide support for protein characterization, predominantly in the form of proteomic technology. The analytical strength of this unit is our experience and knowledge with protein separation sciences. In a classical proteomic application, a complex sample matrix, such as a cochlear lysates or middle ear fluid, is separated into individual protein fractions, the identities of which are then determined with mass spectrometry. The Proteomic Unit can process a myriad sample types, from complex clinical matrices to simple purified proteins, for identification of unknowns or verification of identity. Preparation of samples for mass spectrometry through an institutional core is also an essential service of the Unit.