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 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

Bio Tek 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.”

Class II Type A2 Biological Safety Cabinet:

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. 

Steri-Cycle CO₂ Incubators:

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.

Sorvall ST4R PLUS-MD Refrigerated Centrifuge:

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.

Sorvall Legend Micro 21 Microcentrifuge:

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

BioRad ChemiDoc XRS+ Imaging System:

Gel and blot imaging and analysis.

Sorvall mTX 150 micro-ultracentrifuge:

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

XF^e24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer:

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.

LI-COR Odyssey M Imaging System:

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.

Protein Simple Jess Automated Capillary Western-Blot System:

Provides reproducible, automated, high-throughput, and fast protein quantification in small or limited samples. Chemiluminescence and fluorescence multiplex protein quantification with total or specific reference protein normalization.

Vet Axcel^® Chemistry Analyzer:

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

IsoSpark Proteomics System:

This instrument performs two types of assays. One assesses the secretion profile of an individual cell to see how it is affected by the disease state and whether cells are more active or polyfunctional in a disease condition. It also can use t-SNE to do cluster analysis. The other assay allows for the quantification of multiple cytokines and related proteins in serum, plasma, media, or urine.

RoboSep-S Fully Automated Cell Separator:

This instrument performs all of the steps necessary to magnetically label and separate nearly any cell type by positive or negative selection. It minimizes sample handling, eliminates cross-contamination, and reduces hands-on time.

Assay Subcore Services

Autoantibody Assays- Cytation 5 (https://redcap.umc.edu/surveys/?s=4DDL3WYKJX7DTK9D)

Blood and Urine Chemistry- Vet Axcel (https://redcap.umc.edu/surveys/?s=RJRNF4JPCA7KJPEA)

 Cell Proliferation/Viability Assays -Cytation 5 (https://redcap.umc.edu/surveys/?s=HHL7TMW3K7LAJDHX)

 ELISAs/MultiPlex Analysis – BioPlex (https://redcap.umc.edu/surveys/?s=8X3LCT9Y7CWE943C)

 Flow Cytometry – MACsQuant X / MACsQuant 16 (https://redcap.umc.edu/surveys/?s=RWJCYWFCM9FA4N4Y)

 Gel Imaging – OdysseyM/ChemiDoc ( https://redcap.umc.edu/surveys/?s=D9TA99WT7NHPX8WA)

 Immune Cell Secretion Profiling – IsoSpark (https://redcap.umc.edu/surveys/?s=TDK73MEHNYYDPLAX)

 Mitochondrial and Cellular Metabolic Function – Seahorse XF^e24  (https://redcap.umc.edu/surveys/?s=LHTWTNPWMEYJNTYP)

 Nitrix Oxide (NO) Measurements – NO Analyzer (https://redcap.umc.edu/surveys/?s=4MKKJ7N74YXNMNYN)

 Oxidant Molecule Determination – EPR (https://redcap.umc.edu/surveys/?s=WWYWRXED93LYXY84)

 Western Blotting (Tradition or Simple Western) – Jess/BioRad (https://redcap.umc.edu/surveys/?s=H8NT8YRTDF9PRKH9)

*Additional assays available

**Plus the cost of antibodies

Request Forms

• 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. All consultation requests should be sent to PCRC@umc.edu.

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