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These pages list our core facilities by areas of focus. These are brief profiles of the cores; to find more detailed information on each core, including location, contact information, and equipment lists, please check out their facility overview in their listing in our searchable database.

 

 

Computational

UNC Center for Bioinformatics

UNC Center for Bioinformatics provides bioinformatics research support for researchers at UNC-CH. As a part of that mission we manage and maintain licenses for several commercial software packages that UNC-CH licenses. These packages include software for experimental molecular biology (Sequencher, DNASTAR and Vector NTI), next generation sequencing data analysis (CLC Genomics Workbench) and microarray data (Partek Genomics Suite). We also provide access to (and manage) UNC-CH’s licenses for Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). These tools are supported on multiple operating systems. We closely work with ITS-Research Computing to facilitate access to large compute resources for biomedical researchers. We pre-install, maintain, update many open source software packages for analysis of next generation data on ITS-RC compute clusters. Local copies of BLAST databases are made available on the cluster and are updated on a weekly basis.

We offer “hands-on” training for different bioinformatics tools/topics year round. Basic Bioinformatics Tools workshops (https://guides.lib.unc.edu/bioinformatics) are offered each Spring and Fall semester in collaboration with Health Sciences Library. They consist of multiple two hour sessions spread over several weeks. Video recordings of these workshops sessions are created and remain available (on request) to learn at your own pace. Three full-day intensive workshops on next generation sequence data analysis are offered twice a year. We also manage the information technology infrastructure for UNC-HTSF. This includes processing, quality control, distribution and backup of all sequence data  generated by UNC-HTSF for majority of the projects

Bioinformatics and Statistical Analysis Core

Bioinformatics and Statistical Analysis Core, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, enhances the productivity of CIDD investigators and the quality of their research. The core assists IDDRC projects with study design, data management, and statistical analysis. Assistance ranges from simple consultation to answering specific data management or analysis questions,to collaborative involvement from the design stage through proposal writing, data collection and management, to the publication of results.

Biomedical Research Imaging Center (BRIC): Image Storage and Analysis

Biomedical Research Imaging Center (BRIC): Image Storage and Analysis core serves to develop new tools for image analysis and to support the image storage and analysis needs of scientists who use the BRIC facilities. So far, this core has developed various novel image segmentation, registration, and multivariate analysis methods, with applications to brain (including MCI, AD, Schizophrenia, and neonate study), heart, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. The facility is open to all users and accepts work from external entities.

Lineberger Biostatistics and Clinical Data Management

Lineberger Biostatistics and Clinical Data Management holds regularly scheduled walk-in clinics as well as in-depth consultations and data analysis services.

Research Support

Cancer Information and Population Health Resource (CIPHR)

The Cancer Information and Population Health Resource (CIPHR) provides a prospective data linkage between metrics of cancer incidence, mortality, and burden in North Carolina and data sources at an individual and aggregate level that describe health care, economic, social, behavioral, and environmental patterns.

CFAR HIV/STD Laboratory Core

CFAR HIV/STD Laboratory Core offers services and collaborations to HIV researchers for their basic and clinical research projects. The Core provides a GCLP environment for specimen processing and testing.

The laboratory is equipped and experienced in the preparation and/or storage of tissues, cells or body fluids, the diagnosis and measurement of HIV and other STIs, and the assessment of soluble and/or cellular immune system components within each of these specimen types. Services include: Specimen processing and storage, provision of clinical specimens from HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals, HIV diagnosis, HIV monitoring, HIV sequencing, STI diagnosis/screening, HLA typing, measurement of soluble biomarkers (ELISA, Luminex platform, ELISPOT), flow cytometry for phenotyping and functional analysis of immune cell populations, antibody analysis, and in vitro HIV assays for antiretroviral activity.

CHAI Core (Connected Health for Applications and Interventions)

The CHAI Core (Connected Health for Applications and Interventions), is a one-stop shop for researchers, with a strong focus on the technologies needed to reach out to today’s study participants. Services offered include:

  • Development of websites, including intervention and decision-aid websites
  • Development of web-based/mobile applications
  • Development of back-end databases for research content delivery and data collection
  • Graphic design (including logo, print, and web, and mobile design)
  • Usability and cognitive testing
  • Design and implementation of formative qualitative strategies

NC TraCS Data and Analytics

NC TraCS Data and Analytics offers services to help investigators mine and manage large and diverse data sets using advanced statistical, mathematical and computational techniques.
Access clinical and administrative data from UNC Health Care systems:
* Data Management
* Curated Data Sets
Access fully-hosted, web-based data management services to support clinical trials and clinical & translational research studies.
Ensure high quality data capture and compliance.

Innovation Services Hub

Innovate Carolina’s Innovation Services Hub offers

  • Patent Landscaping and Market Research Services: The service offers custom analytical reports that provide a strategic view of the competitive landscape, current and projected market conditions, as well as opportunities for grants and funding to complete research and launch new products, services and businesses. (details on website)
  • Design Thinking Services: Innovate Carolina offers in-house expertise and consultation in design thinking based on the world-renown IDEO method. Our team works with UNC faculty, staff and students – as well as external organizations – to integrate this methodology into your research, teaching and practice. (details on website)
  • Venture Services: Innovate Carolina helps accelerate startup development and growth through services that connect you with both student talent and industry peers for mentoring and potential investment opportunities.

UNC Patient-Reported Outcomes Core (PRO Core)

UNC Patient-Reported Outcomes Core (PRO Core) is committed to bringing the patient’s voice into health care. PRO Core offers scientific consulting and statistical support, and hosts an electronic research data collection system that is tailored to support research involving patient-reported outcomes and other types of patient-generated health data. PRO Core’s electronic data capture system is suitable for both single-site and multi-site clinical studies. PRO Core frequently supports NIH and PCORI-funded trials evaluating novel interventions and the integration of patient-reported outcomes assessments into routine clinical care.   Services include:

  1. Programming and customizing an electronic research data collection system (pro.unc.edu) that is tailored to your clinical research workflow.  Our research data collection system offers numerous features, including full programmer-level support on system setup and design, workflow tailoring, and technical issues; design of electronic study forms with skip patterns, validations, and calculated scoring; multi-modal survey administration i.e. smart phone, tablet, laptop, interactive voice response (IVR), computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI), and paper entry; support for multiple languages; support for dyadic assessment; support for computer-adaptive testing (CAT) using item-response theory (IRT); support for complex data collection scheduling, i.e. longitudinal survey administration, repeating instruments, and time zones; workflows tailored to inpatient, outpatient, or community settings and populations with limited literacy and/or internet access; integration of wearables and IoT device data; interfacing with other clinical data collection platforms (e.g. Medidata Rave); real-time alerts based on participant responses; personalized reports for patients or clinicians; automated reminders for study staff and patients; dashboards and reports for monitoring data collection and survey completion; support for multi-site studies as a central data repository; support for pilot/feasibility studies, including support for iterative study design; and more.
  2. Scientific support on study design, selection of valid and reliable measures, optimal methods for administering surveys in your study population, guidance on data analysis; scientific review of research proposals, study protocols, questionnaires, interview guides, analysis plans, study findings, presentations, and manuscripts
  3. Psychometric consulting support including  data manipulation, survey design and scale development, power analysis and sample size calculations (effect-size-based & simulation-based), psychometric evaluations (reliability & validity), test scoring (classical test theory & item response theory), missing data handling, and mathematical and statistical modeling (GLM, SEM, supervised learning, etc.).

Clinical Research Support

NC TraCS Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC)

NC TraCS Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) offers investigators a variety of research support services, including access to inpatient and outpatient examination rooms, a staff of highly-skilled research professionals, an investigators laboratory, nutrition research support, and an oral health research facility. In addition, CTRC staff can assist you with study budgeting, letters of support, and research coordinator orientation.

Health on Wheels 

Health on Wheels is a mobile medical unit available to UNC researchers, UNC clinicians and other UNC collaborators, making it possible to bring a small exam room to venues throughout the state. The medical unit includes an exam table, two blood-drawing chairs, a hand-washing sink and other basic exam room features. The mobile unit provides a comfortable and private setting for conducting medical interventions, including health exams, screenings and interviews.

Clinical Research Services, Nutrition Obesity Research Center

Clinical Research Services, Nutrition Obesity Research Center, provides assistance to (a) investigators with little or no clinical research experience and (b) for studies that may or may not have funding or a protocol in place, including guidance on developing, launching, and problem solving for clinical or translational research studies.

Research Participant Registry Core, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities

Research Participant Registry Core, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, supports research projects on developmental disabilities at UNC. UNC researchers who have been approved for IDDRC membership are eligible to access core services.
The Core assists with recruitment, public relations and referral source development, and grant preparation, and maintains confidential databases of people who want to be contacted about research studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, links eligible participants with research studies, and keeps registry members informed about the latest advancements in research at UNC.

NC TraCS Data and Analytics

NC TraCS Data and Analytics offers services to help investigators mine and manage large and diverse data sets using advanced statistical, mathematical and computational techniques.
Access clinical and administrative data from UNC Health Care systems:
* Data Management
* Curated Data Sets
Access fully-hosted, web-based data management services to support clinical trials and clinical & translational research studies.
Ensure high quality data capture and compliance.

UNC Patient-Reported Outcomes Core (PRO Core)

UNC Patient-Reported Outcomes Core (PRO Core) is committed to bringing the patient’s voice into health care. PRO Core offers scientific consulting and statistical support, and hosts an electronic research data collection system that is tailored to support research involving patient-reported outcomes and other types of patient-generated health data. PRO Core’s electronic data capture system is suitable for both single-site and multi-site clinical studies. PRO Core frequently supports NIH and PCORI-funded trials evaluating novel interventions and the integration of patient-reported outcomes assessments into routine clinical care.   Services include:

  1. Programming and customizing an electronic research data collection system (pro.unc.edu) that is tailored to your clinical research workflow.  Our research data collection system offers numerous features, including full programmer-level support on system setup and design, workflow tailoring, and technical issues; design of electronic study forms with skip patterns, validations, and calculated scoring; multi-modal survey administration i.e. smart phone, tablet, laptop, interactive voice response (IVR), computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI), and paper entry; support for multiple languages; support for dyadic assessment; support for computer-adaptive testing (CAT) using item-response theory (IRT); support for complex data collection scheduling, i.e. longitudinal survey administration, repeating instruments, and time zones; workflows tailored to inpatient, outpatient, or community settings and populations with limited literacy and/or internet access; integration of wearables and IoT device data; interfacing with other clinical data collection platforms (e.g. Medidata Rave); real-time alerts based on participant responses; personalized reports for patients or clinicians; automated reminders for study staff and patients; dashboards and reports for monitoring data collection and survey completion; support for multi-site studies as a central data repository; support for pilot/feasibility studies, including support for iterative study design; and more.
  2. Scientific support on study design, selection of valid and reliable measures, optimal methods for administering surveys in your study population, guidance on data analysis; scientific review of research proposals, study protocols, questionnaires, interview guides, analysis plans, study findings, presentations, and manuscripts
  3. Psychometric consulting support including  data manipulation, survey design and scale development, power analysis and sample size calculations (effect-size-based & simulation-based), psychometric evaluations (reliability & validity), test scoring (classical test theory & item response theory), missing data handling, and mathematical and statistical modeling (GLM, SEM, supervised learning, etc.).

Materials

BeAM Design Center

The BeAM Design Center (formerly the ESE Research Design Center) functions as a research service center within the BeAM (Be A Maker) network.  Our mission is to facilitate research through consultation, innovative design, fabrication and implementation assistance.  Our project scope ranges from modest modifications and repairs to design and fabrication of complex field research installations.

Chemistry Department Electronics Facility

Chemistry Department Electronics Facility provides consultation, electronic circuit research and development and construction services, repair, maintenance, and trouble-shooting, primarily to the Chemistry Dept., but also to other UNC departments.

Chemistry Department Glass Shop

Chemistry Department Glass Shop is a full service shop primarily engaged in the design and fabrication of specialized scientific glassware as well as repairs and modifications of existing glassware.

The Glass Shop has on hand virtually all sizes of borosilicate (Pyrex and Kimax) glass tubing ranging in size from 2 mm up to 178 mm in diameter. All sizes of commonly used ground glass joints and a large selection of both glass and Teflon stopcocks are maintained in a large inventory. A smaller selection of quartz tubing and ground joints are also maintained in stock. Special items can be ordered if necessary.

Equipment in the facility includes a 8 1/4 inch bore glassblowing lathe, two smaller glass blowing lathes, drilling, cutting, and grinding equipment.We also have ultrasonic and spot welding capabilities. Annealing ovens for both borosilicate and quartz apparatus are available, as well as a vacuum system for producing evacuated glass or quartz vessels. We also have experience in the silver plating of apparatus for vacuum use.

We have experience with a large variety of materials used in glassware fabrication including glass to metal seals, fritted glass, and transition glasses.

Eligible Users: Department of Chemistry as well as other UNC departments and outside organizations.

 

Link to searchable core facilities database

Back to Categorized Core Listing page