The primary focus of the COCVD is to identify mechanisms linking obesity to cardiovascular disease. The Obesity Core provides EchoMRI and indirect calorimetry equipment and technical expertise for measurement of lean/fat mass and whole body metabolism in mice.

The Pathology Research Core facilitates COCVD projects by providing equipment and technical expertise to paraffin-embed and section tissue specimens and perform chemical staining of tissue sections to be examined, photographed and analyzed chromogenically by light microscopy.

Mass spectrometry core lab performing proteomics, small molecule, and lipidomic analyses.
Provides access to advanced analytical equipment for quantitation and structural analysis. Offers assistance in sample preparation, method development, acquisition, and data analysis.

Core conducts animal behavior tests for investigators at the University of Kentucky.
Ensures that qualified and trained investigators have access to instrumentation and expertise necessary to perform behavior tests. Provides assistance in the design, implementation and analysis of behavioral experiments in rodents and other animals.
Provides equipment for measurement of lean/fat mass and whole body metabolism in mice. Echo MRI is utilized for non-invasive quantitative assessment of lean and fat mass. Sable Promethion Calorimeter indirectly measures oxygen consumption (RER), food and water intake, and physical activity in mice.

Core facility offers fluorescence, confocal, super resolution, multi-photon, laser capture and atomic force microscopy. Provides central preparatory laboratory and high-end computer workstations for data analysis and image processing. Technical support ranges from investigator training on instrumentation, allowing independent use, to complete processing of samples and final imaging by facility staff. The facility is GRP accredited, undergoes annual compliance checks and provides extensive standard operating procedures for all instrumentation.

Core supports research requiring flow cytometry techniques in basic and translational research. Provides access to equipment, and technical and scientific expertise for comprehensive analysis of immune responses. Uses standardized and optimized SOPs and study protocols to obtain reproducible and quality results for our collaborating investigators in cost-effective manner.

The Nanobody and Protein Production Facility facilitates nanobody and recombinant protein production. The facility specializes in the production of nanobodies by immunizing alpacas and then isolating the nanobodies they produce. Projects are undertaken on a fee-for-service basis. A full time staff member maintains the core.

The Genetic Technologies Core provides a range of services related to the manipulation and delivery of nucleic acids to biological systems. Services include, but are not limited to:

Production and titering of recombinant viral vectors, including- Lentiviruses, Adenoviruses, and Adeno-associated viruses

Subcloning

Tagging of open reading frames

Development of plasmids and/or RNAs for CRISPR/Cas manipulation

piggyBac transposon delivery systems

Real-time PCR analysis

Recombineering

In vitro transcription

The Core maintains an extensive stock of plasmids that provide components for building constructs envisioned by the investigator and provides consultative services to devise an efficient plan for their realization.

The Core also provides training opportunities in the technologies described above, either as a for-credit, one semester class or on a project-related, fee-based basis.

The Organic Synthesis Core provides biological investigators with access to “small” organic compounds that allow investigators to probe important biological questions relevant to the molecular basis of human medicine.

The core maintains an open-door policy for consultation. In a collaborative process, the Core designs specific small molecules and tailors these small molecules to include suitable functional groups for linkage to proteins, peptide-nucleic-acid (PNA) mimics or to suitable markers for the detection and monitoring of a particular drug or natural product. Tailoring includes the incorporation of fluorescent tags, photoactive groups, non-radiogenic labels (e.g., deuterium) or radiolabels, as needed. The laboratory maintains equipment needed for organic synthesis and utilizes infrared, ultraviolet, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance instrumentation to characterize adducts and to establish their purity. The Core also assists investigators with the characterization and purification of compounds acquired from other sources. The Core does not synthesize compounds available from commercial sources.

Training opportunities are available for graduate students, technicians and postdoctoral fellows from other research groups who wish to learn a particular technique and subsequently import it into their research group. The core provides access to equipment: melting point devices, low-pressure distillation equipment, photochemical apparatus, specialized glassware and chromatographic systems not generally available in biochemical laboratories and provides access to this equipment to any investigators who need it.