Ohio State’s 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 – A joint venture between Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) and Ohio State's Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute (DHLRI), this resource assists in the analysis and sorting of cell populations according to the expression of selective cellular markers. To learn more, visit the DHLRI website or the OSUCCC – James website.

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. To learn more, visit the DHLRI website. 

Behavioral Measurement – This shared resource integrates behavioral research into the broad investigative 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 behavioral constructs, and guidance with behavioral data collection methodology and/or personnel. To learn more, visit the OSUCCC – James website.

Behavioral Phenotyping – This facility in the Biomedical Research Tower vivarium 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. 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 optimization. To learn more, visit the Biomedical Informatics website. 

Biorepository and Biospecimen (BBR) – This resource procures and provides malignant and normal tissues from solid tumors to members of Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. The BBR is part of a large tissue bank network at Ohio State called "The Human Tissue Resource Network,” which also includes: The NCI-funded Cooperative Human Tissue Network; the NCI-funded Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) Pathology Coordinating Office and specimen banks; the NCI-funded AIDS Malignancy Bank; the Tissue Archives Services; and the Research Histology Core Facility. The BBR accomplishes both basic science and clinical collection of materials that are fundamentally different but important to OSUCCC – James goals. The BBR staff provides quality control of the research specimen and direct interaction with pathologists and OSUCCC – James investigators to better assist in tissue procurement and to foster hypothesis-driven cancer research. To learn more visit the OSUCCC – James website.

Biostatistics Core – 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 methods, and manuscript preparation. To learn more, visit the Biostatistics Core website.

Campus Microscopy and Imaging Facility (CMIF) – The Campus Microscopy and Imaging Facility (CMIF) 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. To learn more, visit the CMIF website. 

Center for Knowledge Management – Ohio State’s Center for Knowledge Management (CKM), housed in the 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. To learn more, visit the CKM website. 

Clinical Trials Office (CTO) – The CTO facilitates development and implementation of all Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Reearch Institute clinical trials, including regulatory processing, subject recruitment, data collection and protocol-management services. To learn more, visit the OSUCCC – James website. 

Comparative Pathology & Mouse Phenotyping Shared Resource (CPMPSR) – Investigators who use animal models of human cancer can receive expert, readily available and affordable experimental pathology support from this newly expanded and renamed shared resource (formerly Mouse Phenotyping). Supported by the Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, this resource offers comprehensive macroscopic and microscopic examinations of laboratory animals with an emphasis on the phenotypic characterization of newly produced lines of genetically engineered mice. Other services include hematology, clinical chemistry, radiography, routine frozen and paraffin slide preparation as well as tissue microarray preparation, and special histochemical and immunochemical staining. To learn more, visit the Veterinary Medicine website.

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 Clinical Research Center (CRC) program is funded by the National Center for Research Resources in the National Institutes for Health. The CRC program 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.

Laser Microdissection Pressure Catapulting Molecular Analysis Facility – 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 has developed a way to 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 – This resource provides 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 – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, and to outside collaborators who examine cellular and molecular properties of leukemia. To learn more, visit the OSUCCC – James website.

Microarray – The Microarray resource 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.

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.

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. To learn more, visit the DHLRI website.

Molecular Cytogenetics – 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).

Nucleic Acid – This resource 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. To learn more, visit the OSUCCC – James website.

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. To learn more, visit the OSUCCC – James website. 

Pharmacogenomics – 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. To learn more, visit the Pharmacogenomics website.

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. To learn more, visit the OSUCCC – James website.

Small Animal Imaging – This multidisciplinary resource is provided through the Small Animal Imaging Center, which includes high-resolution imaging equipment, personnel trained in the operation of each imaging modality and small-animal-handling procedures, and analytical software support for quantitative image analysis. The facility supports micro magnetic resonance imaging, micro positron emission tomography, micro single photon emission computed tomography and electroparamagnetic resonance imaging systems. To learn more, visit the OSUCCC – James website. 

Transgenic Animal Facility – This facility provides transgenic mice and other related services to the Ohio State biomedical research community. The facility is jointly operated by Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, the Center for Molecular Neurobiology, and University Laboratory Animal Resources. To learn more, visit the Nationwide Children's Hospital website.

X-ray Crystallography – This shared resource 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. To learn more, visit the Cincinnati Children's Hospital website.