An Overview of UAB's Core Facilities
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The UAB Institutional Research Core Program (IRCP) serves as a cornerstone of UAB's commitment to advancing research and scholarship across various disciplines.
UAB will be a regional, national and world leader in academic research infrastructure and environment making it the institution of choice for research scientists.
The UAB IRCP encompasses 18 core facilities across a wide range of scientific disciplines:
Provides comprehensive analytical services for a wide array of materials, catering to UAB researchers, external educational institutions, and industries.
Directors: Dr. Paul Baker, Dr. Vinoy Thomas
The AMCC facilitates research and development of materials by offering detailed characterization of fundamental properties including elemental composition, chemical bonds, crystal structure, surface features, and overall chemical structure.
Dedicated facility for comprehensive behavioral testing of mice and rats to evaluate neurological function, cognitive abilities, and behavioral traits.
Director: Dr. Craig Powell | Managing Director: Dr. Ayanabha Chakraborti
The ABAC facilitates understanding of relationships between genetic conditions, environmental/chemical exposures, anatomical lesions, and their behavioral consequences. The core provides critical behavioral data for preclinical intervention trials.
State-of-the-art facility providing comprehensive services in mitochondrial metabolism, oxidative stress assessment, and analysis of psychological/physiological stress.
Director: Dr. Doug Moellering | Operational Director: Dr. Melissa Sammy
The BARB Core serves as a central hub that facilitates and promotes the development of multidisciplinary research projects among independently funded research programs both within UAB and at institutions worldwide.
Provides cutting-edge computational biology capabilities for identifying, characterizing, and quantifying molecular variation and its impact on biological systems.
Director: Dr. Liz Worthey | Managing Director: Dr. Lara Ianov
The U-BDS provides exceptional computational analysis and method development support to the UAB research community, with the goal of identifying, characterizing, and quantifying molecular variation and its impact on biological systems.
Provides access and training in cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy for characterizing biological samples from cellular to atomic resolution.
Director: Dr. Terje Dokland | Facility Manager: Dr. James Kizziah
The CEMF advances UAB's research mission by supporting the application of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) in scientific discoveries. The facility enables detailed characterization of biological samples at resolutions ranging from cellular to atomic scale.
Internationally recognized facility providing advanced cell analysis and single-cell technologies to significantly advance basic and clinical research.
Director: Dr. Troy Randall | Associate Director: Dr. Vidya Sagar Hanumanthu
The FCSC provides state-of-the-art equipment and services designed to advance both basic and clinical research endeavors. The facility empowers UAB investigators with sophisticated cellular analysis, sorting, and single-cell genomic/transcriptomic studies.
Central resource offering comprehensive genomic services, from basic sequencing to complex genotyping and gene expression studies.
Directors: Dr. Michael Crowley, Dr. David Crossman
The Genomics Core provides UAB investigators with the necessary tools and support to conduct a wide range of genomic analyses, from basic sequencing to complex genotyping and gene expression studies for diverse research applications.
Central hub providing state-of-the-art imaging resources and comprehensive technical support for a wide range of biological and biomedical research applications.
Director: Dr. Alexa Mattheyses
The HRIF facilitates high-quality imaging for a wide range of biological and biomedical research applications, offering both electron microscopy and light microscopy capabilities with expert support and training.
Vital resource providing advanced medical imaging resources and comprehensive services for clinical studies, with a special focus on oncologic research at the O'Neal Cancer Center.
Directors: Dr. Sam Galgano, Dr. Elainea Smith
The HISF fosters excellence in both patient care and research by offering world-class imaging and analysis capabilities for clinical trials and validation of novel imaging biomarkers across a range of medical disciplines.
State-of-the-art facility providing comprehensive capabilities for the identification, characterization, and quantification of proteins and their post-translational modifications.
Director: Dr. James A. Mobley | Operations Director: Dr. Kyoko Kojima
The MSP supports the diverse research needs of UAB Cancer Center members by enabling the identification, characterization, and quantification of proteins and their post-translational modifications from various biological samples, including cells, biological fluids, and tissues.
Specialized facility providing state-of-the-art assessments of various metabolic parameters for research purposes.
Director: Dr. Barbara A. Gower
The Metabolism Core promotes multidisciplinary research and comprehensive training in clinical nutrition and obesity across the UAB campus, offering accurate measurement of energy expenditure, substrate metabolism, body composition, body fat distribution, and bone quality in human subjects.
Specialized facility focused on providing comprehensive services for the analysis of microbial communities through 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
Director: Dr. Casey D. Morrow
The Microbiome Core enables researchers to investigate the complex roles of the microbiome in various physiological and pathological processes through comprehensive analysis of bacterial communities in biological samples.
Supports innovative applications of mixed methods research, community-based participatory research, and qualitative research approaches in social and behavioral sciences.
Directors: Dr. Nataliya Ivankova, Dr. Ronit Elk
The MMR-CBPR-QR Core empowers UAB investigators to develop applied knowledge and essential skills in mixed methods, community-based participatory research, and qualitative methodologies to address complex social and health issues and promote health equity.
Critical university-wide resource supporting research in structural biology and drug discovery through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy.
Directors: Dr. William Placzek, Dr. Richard Dluhy
The Central Alabama High-Field NMR Facility provides access to and expertise in NMR spectroscopy, making this powerful analytical technique readily available to researchers throughout UAB and within the broader scientific community.
Offers comprehensive multimodality imaging approach specifically designed to provide a molecular-level understanding of disease processes in animal models.
Director: Dr. Anna Sorace
The PISF/SAIF supports sustainable and responsive preclinical imaging, primarily in oncology models, enabling therapeutic assessment of treatment responses and facilitating translational research at UAB.
State-of-the-art facility dedicated to providing comprehensive magnetic resonance imaging experiments and analyses for detailed examination of brain and body in health and disease.
Directors: Dr. Virendra Mishra, Dr. Jane Allendorfer
The RMRIC supports a wide range of research endeavors, from fundamental studies of MRI physics to complex multisite clinical trials, offering advanced imaging capabilities for understanding structure and function throughout the body.
Dedicated to empowering UAB investigators to rigorously evaluate the significant impact of social and environmental factors on a wide spectrum of health outcomes.
Directors: Dr. Gabriela Oates, Dr. Elizabeth Baker
The SDH Core facilitates innovative investigations into the complex interplay between biological, clinical, economic, educational, structural, and social factors that contribute to health and disease, with the ultimate aim of promoting health equity for all.
Centralized facility dedicated to providing efficient and high-quality services for the production of genetically modified animal models, including mice, rats, and zebrafish.
Directors: Dr. John Parant, Dr. Courtney Haycraft
The TGEM Core offers UAB investigators and external researchers access to specialized services performed by trained professionals, adhering to the highest standards of quality and efficiency in the generation of genetically engineered models for research.
Cancer Therapeutics Development Pipeline:
The UAB IRCP stands as an invaluable and indispensable asset to the university's research enterprise, providing essential support to scientists, students, and clinicians across multiple disciplines.
As UAB continues to strive for excellence in research and innovation, the Institutional Research Core Program remains a critical driver of scientific discovery, fostering collaboration, and enhancing the university's reputation as a leading research institution.