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Welcome to the UNC Vector Core
The UNC Vector Core at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a full-service viral vector production facility with more than 30 years of experience supporting biomedical research. Founded in 1993, the Vector Core specializes in the production of high-quality, research-grade viral vectors and partners closely with investigators to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.
Our mission is to provide reliable, high-quality adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors to academic, government, foundation, and biotechnology partners in support of innovative research and translational discovery.
Our Production Facility
The Vector Core is located in the Thurston Bowles Building on the UNC–Chapel Hill campus. Our facility includes dedicated, purpose-built suites for DNA preparation, viral vector production, quality control, and operational support, enabling efficient workflows and rigorous quality oversight.
Our Production Platform
The Vector Core utilizes a suspension cell–based production platform with serum-free media to improve scalability, consistency, and vector purity. This approach reduces the number of processing steps required by traditional adherent cell methods and minimizes variability associated with fetal bovine serum (FBS), resulting in high-quality vectors at a lower overall cost.
Our manufacturing process is free of animal-derived components, reducing the risk of contamination from adventitious agents. In addition, we employ Wave bioreactor technology to limit open handling steps and further reduce the risk of cross-contamination, ensuring robust and reproducible vector production.
