Services & Equipment
Expertly staffed and featuring state-of-the-art equipment, the ONR Lab purposefully designed to promote collaboration between faculty and students of all levels.
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.
The lab conducts assays, provides descriptions of assays for grants, regulatory documents and protocols, develops new assays for projects and provides a site where faculty may conduct their own explorations under the direction of an experienced lab manager. Facilities to store, catalogue, and release biological samples are also provided by the lab.
Services
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. Metabolic and toxicity indicators are also examined. We also provide customized biomarker assay development and assay validation services.
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.
Human physiology experiments interrogating the cardiovascular responses to stress are performed.
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.
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 premier dual-mode reader for absorbance and fluorescence intensity-based assays. It is equipped with a Data Acquisition and Analysis Software for ease of data analysis. The Synergy H1supports a wide variety of assay categories including ELISAs, DNA/RNA quantitation, Cell viability and Cytotoxicity assays, Enzyme kinetics, Fluorescence and Luminescence based assays, Protease estimation, etc.
FluorChem E Imager System allows ultrasensitive chemiluminescent, colorimetric and UV fluorescent imaging of western blots and gels. The integrated computer together with the Alphaview software remote access, operation and analysis by any web-browser enabled computer or device.
YSI 2300 STAT Plus Glucose and Lactate Analyzer measures blood glucose and lactate. The YSI is known for its exceptional speed, performance and ease of use. It is a laboratory glucose and lactate analyzer designed for flexibility, exceptional speed and performance, used to measure glucose and lactate simultaneously in whole blood or plasma.
Leica Cryostat sections histology slides.
Olympus Fluorescence Microscope allows histology slides to be viewed.
Langendorff Apparatus measures isolated heart function.
Refrigerated Centrifuges are used in processing samples.
Ultra-Low (-80°C) Freezers allow the lab to store biological samples while preserving activity.