News and Updates

Cryo-EM Core Facility Determines High-Resolution Structure of Key DNA-sensing Protein

Led by Qi Zhang, PhD, and Robert McGinty, MD, PhD, UNC-Chapel Hill scientists used cryo-electron microscopy technology to produce the first-ever high-resolution structure of the protein cGAS bound to the DNA packaging unit inside human cell nuclei, revealing how cGAS responds to foreign or damaged DNA, but not the body’s healthy DNA.

Scientists Show How Brain Flexibility Emerges in Infants

Cognitive flexibility, which refers to the brain’s ability to switch between mental processes in response to external stimuli and different task demands, seems to begin developing during the first two years of life, which is much earlier than previously thought. UNC BRIC researchers led by Weili Lin, PhD, used magnetic resonance imaging techniques to show … Continued

Quality Management Systems in UNC Core Facilities

The Journal of Biomolecular Techniques has published a paper by Dr. Christopher W. Gregory, Director, Office of Research Technologies (Building a Quality Management System in a Core Facility: A Genomics Core Case Study). 

SOM Biomedical Research Core Voucher Program – FY20 Awarded Projects

120 applications were received in response to the first offering of the SOM Biomedical Research Core Voucher Program. 27 grants were awarded, engaging 19 different cores. FY20 Awarded Projects

Biomedical Research Core Voucher RFA Program Announcement

The Core Facility Advocacy Committee (CFAC) in the Office of Research Technologies (ORT), UNC School of Medicine (SOM), announces a new program for research projects that directly utilize UNC SOM biomedical research cores.  Core vouchers worth up to $10,000 will be awarded to investigators with qualified projects to be used exclusively for core services.  Up … Continued

The Animal Models Core offers CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing Services

The Animal Models Core (AMC) offers a full range of CRISPR/Cas9 services for genome editing in mice, rats and cell lines. The core was an early adopter of the CRISPR system in 2013 and have now completed over 150 CRISPR projects. Using the CRISPR System for Genome Editing in Mice and Rats: The CRISPR system … Continued

Core Facilities Newsletter Summer 2019

Catch up on core facility news and highlights in the newsletter summer 2019 edition

MSL light sheet microscope enables groundbreaking research

With support from a $200,000 instrumentation grant from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBC) in 2016, the Microscopy Services Lab (MSL) acquired a light sheet microscope, the only one of  this model in the state.  “This microscope is unique in its capabilities and it’s transformative in what research it can support,” said Pablo Ariel, Ph.D., … Continued

Microscopy Services Laboratory (MSL) Update

The Microscopy Services Laboratory’s mission is to help scientists with their research, when it involves light microscopy, electron microscopy and image analysis. We provide training and assistance in all three areas, as well as extensive sample preparation services for transmission and scanning electron microscopy. In consultation with researchers we can advise which instruments will most … Continued

UNC MH Proteomics Center: High-resolution mass analysis of large, intact biomolecules including antibody therapeutics

The UNC Proteomics Core receives CFAC funding to acquire a 908 Devices ZipChip Capillary Electrophoresis System. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a microfluidic technology that separates a variety of analytes from different matrices based on size and charge. The 908 Devices ZipChip uses a combination of CE and electrospray ionization enabling up-front separation coupled with mass … Continued

Zeng wins Outstanding Individual Performance Award

Allergen Biologics created this award due to its first-rate relationship with Xinghua Zeng, the lab manager for the UNC Vector Core, which provides AAV products to researchers around the world. Allergan created a new award category so it could honor UNC School of Medicine’s Xinghua Zeng, MS, the lab manager of the UNC Vector Core. … Continued

RNAi High Throughput Screening Facility

RNAi mediated inhibition of gene expression is a powerful method for identifying genes and their cognate phenotype, whose loss of expression alters the cell phenotype. The RNAi High-Throughput Screening (HTS) Facility provides automation and robotics support, guidance in screen assay development, implementation of primary and secondary screens as well as a human genomic siRNA library … Continued