Research scientists and students at Ohio State have access to some of the best core laboratories in the nation. Equipped with the latest in imaging technology and precision instrumentation, these labs provide the resources and services that enable researchers to carry out their investigations with confidence and success.

Following is a description of the core resource facilities that support biomedical research at Ohio State.

The Campus Microscopy and Imaging Facility (CMIF) serves a wide range of faculty, staff and students of The Ohio State University and is also available for use by those outside the university. The CMIF offers a complete range of microscopes, (including confocal, light, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy). CMIF support staff are knowledgeable and skilled in the operation of these instruments, as well as in the preparation of biological specimens, image acquisition, quantitation and reproduction.

The Pharmacogenomics Core Laboratory provides resources for collaborative research in pharmocogenomics, including Affymetrix arrays and customized microarrays for measuring mRNA expression; detection of sequence variants and scoring of known sequence variants; bioinformatics and medical informatics support; and proteomics analysis. The lab is also a tissue culture facility that supports pharmacogenomic studies.

The development of new analytical technology and the completion of the genome sequences of several organisms have made it possible for scientists to predict all of the proteins that can be present in an organism. Ohio State’s Proteomics Core Laboratory provides services necessary for analyzing and identifying proteins present in biological samples. The Proteomics lab provides services to investigators in the College of Medicine and Public Health, as well as those in both the Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute and the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology.

New technology has also given rise to the creation of vast amounts of biologically derived data, which must be processed, stored, and analyzed. Ohio State’s Bioinformatics Core Laboratory was created to aid in building an infrastructure to handle data coming from other core facilities in a unified manner, along with various research analysis programs. The lab provides an important service to researchers in the fields of computational molecular biology, biological databases and genome bioinformatics.

The University Cell Analysis and Sorting Core Laboratory assists in the electronic dissection of cell populations by the use of "cell sorting" according to the expression of selective cellular markers. Such a sorting process can be performed not only in an analytical fashion, but also in a preparative fashion for performance of experiments on the selected cell populations. State-of-the-art equipment and software allows for 4- and 6-color, on-site or off-line analysis and imaging output.

Genetic analysis is an integral step involved in understanding heart and lung disease and for developing clinical applications and pursuing the field of pharmacogenetics. The Genetics Microarray Core Laboratory utilizes the newest technology and protocols for complete genetic analysis, ranging from nucleotide sequencing to observing gene function. The lab also provides consulting services for handling large sample sizes, organizing samples and other genetic protocols such as cell culture and libraries.

The Microscopy Core Laboratory has been designed to provide cutting edge technology for visualizing minute details of the subcellular organization of living cells and tissues. The equipment for this laboratory includes fluorescent microscopes fully equipped for optimized magnification (100X objectives), time lapse video microscopy and multiple-channel visualization of fluorescent cellular antigens and other cellular markers. The state of the art capability of multiphoton confocal microscopy is particularly useful for probing delicate living cells or tissues longer and deeper without damaging samples.

The Biomedical Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy and Imaging Core Lab offers cutting edge magnetic resonance technology for detection, quantitation, and visualization of free radicals in biological systems. EPR also enables measurement and imaging of free radicals and physiologically pertinent tissue parameters. The facility has a variety of spin probes and a team of experts to help with applications.