Pharmacology Clinical Research Core

Mission Statement

The Pharmacology Clinical Research Core (PCRC) Facility promotes and facilitates faculty and student research in biomedical bench science. The Core serves as a center to develop research and educational programs to increase biomedical science's competitiveness at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The PCRC supports laboratory aspects of clinical research and provides expertise and resources to clinical and translational scientists and trainees interested in undertaking biomedical “wet-lab” research. The Core offers the services of clinical research coordinators and BSL2 facilities for the processing, storage or molecular experimentation of human biological samples. In addition, equipment and technical assistance for performing ELISAs, cell proliferation assays, autoantibody assays, nitric oxide (NO) measurements, reactive oxygen species (ROS) determination, proteomics, mitochondrial function, flow cytometry, Western immunoblotting, and cell cytokine secretion profiling are available.     

Overall, the PCRC is dedicated to:

• Assisting investigators to initiate, coordinate, and execute biomedical research across departments, cores, and centers within UMMC;
• Facilitate the processing of human biological samples;
• Educate and train faculty, students, and personnel in research technologies;
• Help analyze data and prepare results for publication or grant applications.

Equipment

The Pharmacology Clinical Research Core (PCRC) facility is located on the 3^rd (Biobank) and 4^th (Assay labs) floor of the Research (Pankratz) Building and occupies #### sq ft of BSL2 certified research space. The core facility is well equipped to assist in the processing of biomedical specimens for further analyses or handling, such as for ELISAs, autoantibody assays, Western immunoblotting, and cell culturing in addition to other assays.

Specific equipment housed in the core facility includes:

Storage of biological samples

• Two -80ºC freezers, two -20ºC freezer, a 4°C refrigerator, and liquid nitrogen Dewars.

Sample processing and analysis

• Tissue homogenizer, various mortars/pestles/dounces, and sonicator
• Sievers 280i Nitric Oxide Analyzer
• Vapro Pressure Osmometer
• Berthold FB12 Luminometer
• pH meter
• MiniScope MS400 EPR/ESR Spectrometer 

BioTek Cytation 5 Cell Imaging Multi-Mode Reader with Dual Reagent Injector:

“The Cytation™ 5 combines automated digital microscopy and conventional microplate detection in a configurable, upgradeable platform. Cytation 5 includes both filter-based and monochromator-based optics for multi-mode versatility and performance. The microscopy module, with its standard and wide field of view (FOV) cameras, enables cellular visualization up to 60x magnification in fluorescence, brightfield, high contrast brightfield, color brightfield, and phase contrast across a broad range of sample biologies. Cytation 5 has shaking, incubation to 65°C, and a Peltier Cooling Module to ensure internal environmental stability for uncompromised assay integrity. CO₂/O₂ gas controller and dual reagent injector module are available. Cytation 5 comes with Gen5™ software, designed to make plate reading and image capture easy while providing information-rich data and images.”

The 1300 Series Class II, Type A2 Biological Safety Cabinet provides BL2-level protection for handling human samples and cells, as well as certain viral vector-related research. The hood is equipped with a UV light for periodic decontamination, a pipette aid, and outlets for vacuum and gas Bunsen burner. 

The direct-heat Steri-Cycle CO₂ incubator features an in-chamber HEPA air filtration system, which provides protection against unwanted airborne contaminants, along with an on-demand, high-temperature sterilization cycle that simplifies routine cleaning.

The TX1000 rotor with biohazard containment buckets allows for the centrifugation up to 4,000 rpm of 196 x 5/7 mL blood tubes, 148 x 9/10 mL blood tubes, 96 x 15 mL conical tubes, or 40 x 50 mL conical tubes from refrigerated to ambient temperature.

Microcentrifuge tube sample preparation processes up to 21,100 x g

Gel and blot imaging and analysis.

 Acceleration rates that reach 150,000rpm in just 80 seconds with RCF in excess of 1,048,000 x g.

Measures oxygen consumption rate and extracellular acidification rate of live cells, indicators of mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis, respectively, as well as the rate of ATP production. These measurements provide a systems-level view of metabolic function in cultured cells and ex-vivo samples.

Functions as a Western blot imager, plate reader, slide scanner, luminescence imager, and more. Offers18 imaging channels in dozens of combinations, including near-infrared and visible fluorescence, bio- and chemiluminescence, and RGB true color. Allows for quantification of protein expression on blots or in cell Western assays.

For measurement of blood or urine chemistry, including glucose, triglycerides, A1C, lipid panel, electrolytes, thyroxin, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, etc.

Assay Subcore Services

• Autoantibody assays
• Blood and urine chemistry
• Cell proliferation/viability assays
• ELISAs/Multi-plex Analysis
• Flow cytometry
• Gel imaging
• Immune cell secretion profiling
• Mitochondrial and cellular metabolic function
• Nitric oxide (NO) measurements
• Reactive oxygen species (ROS) determination
• Western immunoblotting

*Additional assays available

**Plus the cost of antibodies

Request Forms

• Bioplex request
• Flow Cytometry request
• Pharmacology Clinical Core Data and or Specimen Request Form

Consulting/Mentoring

The PCRC is committed to:

• Helping investigators initiate, execute, & coordinate research across departments, cores, and centers
• Educate and train faculty and students in research technologies
• Help analyze data and prepare results for publication

We can offer guidance in the preparation and submission of IRB protocols and executing the consenting process. The Core can assist with simple data analysis and provide consultation in preparing results for presentation or publication and the writing of abstracts, manuscripts, and proposals for intramural and extramural funding.

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