Services & Equipment

Expertly staffed and featuring state-of-the-art equipment, the Laboratory of Innovative and Translational Nursing Research (LITNR) is designed to promote collaboration between faculty, staff, fellows, and students of all levels.

Over 2,000 square feed of research space

A Researchers Haven

Beyond the robust research lab is equipped with spacious lab benches, a phlebotomy room, a private interview room, a non-invasive procedure and treatment room, a tissue culture room, and a dedicated ultralow freezer room.

The lab is fully outfitted with analytical equipment to measure concentrations of biomarkers in human and animal tissues and with immunoassay equipment for measurement of protein biomarkers.

Supported Analysis

Biomarker analysis is performed on serum, plasma, urine, saliva and tissue extracts. Samples are examined to analyze expression levels of proteins such as hormones, growth factors and cytokines and stress hormones that correlate with progression of disease or interventions. We also provide customized biomarker assay development and assay validation.

Microscopy is performed on tissue samples to examine cell size, cell proliferation, and cell death. Immunohistopathologic assessment of molecules is also performed.

Cell culture experiments probing molecular signaling in specific cell types is conducted.

Molecular Biology - Levels of expression of specific genes and proteins are monitored by Real-Time PCR, Western Blotting and Densitometric Analysis, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays, and Luminescence Assays.

The Equipment

  • Life Technologies Quant Studio 3 RealTime qPCR System allows the detection and quantification of nucleic acid sequences over a wide dynamic range. The sensitivity and precision of this detection platform is combined with the powerful user-friendly software that allows both absolute as well as relative quantitation of DNA and RNA sequences. This system can be used also for SNP genotyping, allelic discrimination, pathogen quantification, etc.
  • BioTek SynergyH1 Plate Reader is a dual-mode reader for absorbance and fluorescence intensity-based assays. It supports a wide variety of assay categories including ELISAs, DNA/RNA quantitation, Cell viability and Cytotoxicity assays, Enzyme kinetics, Fluorescence and Luminescence based assays.
  • FluorChem E Imager System allows ultrasensitive chemiluminescent and colorimetric imaging of western blots and gels.
  • Olympus Fluorescence Microscope provides for 3-channel epifluorescence analysis and allows histology slides to be viewed in brightfield mode.
  • Refrigerated Centrifuges are used in processing samples.
  • Ultra-Low (-80°C) Freezers allow the lab to store biological samples while preserving activity.