Spit for Science (S4S) is a university‑wide research initiative at VCU that provides integrated infrastructure for large‑scale behavioral and genetic research. Supported by the CARA Core, S4S offers investigators access to phenotypic and genotypic datasets, high‑performance computing environments, data and sample collection from registry participants, and consultation services.

The MATR is a population-based twin registry housed in Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)‘s Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation. With more than 50,000 individuals of varying ages and demographic backgrounds, the MATR is the largest twin registry in the United States. Registrants are willing to consider participation in research. MATR scientists collaborate with research teams from a variety of disciplines and institutions. Some of the MATR services include: recruitment, data and sample collection, dataset curation & access, protocol development, cost estimates, grant development support, and IRB submissions.

The Structural Biology Core is a multi-user facility serving both the VCU campus and external research institutes. The core encompasses X-ray crystallography, Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM), and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) facilities, and is also closely associated with the School of Pharmacy Molecular Modeling facility.

The Structural Biology Core provides access to state-of-the art equipment, offering researchers the capability to determine the 3D structure of macromolecules and macromolecular complexes. This yields a diverse array of information on their biological or physiological functions, and enables structure-based drug design, protein-ligand or DNA binding studies, testing mutational effects on target macromolecules, and finding the absolute stereochemistry of chiral compounds.

Additionally, the core offers training, technical support, and collaborative opportunities, which are crucial for structural biologists and other researchers studying the structure of biological macromolecules and other materials.

The Genomics Core facility in Richmond VA, maintains a significant portfolio of instrumentation to support advanced sample/library preparation, high-throughput sequencing, real-time PCR and analysis.

The cryo-EM Facility at VCU offers sample preparation, visualization and analysis for high resolution 3D reconstruction of frozen-hydrated proteins and macromolecular complexes. The Facility is endowed with a Thermofisher Scientific Tundra cryo-electron microscope, a Vitrobot Mark IV cryo-plunger, a Pelco easyGlow glow discharge unit, a Denton DV 502B evaporator, and a linux server dedicated to image processing.

The Bioimaging and Applied Research Core, directed by Frank Corwin, Ph.D. and managed by Mackenzie Newman, Ph.D., offers comprehensive instrumentation and technical support for all aspects of in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical non-human anatomical and molecular imaging. Studies may be conducted on samples prepared to exhibit characteristic features for a particular imaging modality. Within the intact environment, physiological and pathophysiological activity may be observed through imaging or numerous biological pathways and interactions involved in injury and disease progression, such as traumatic brain injury, cardiac disease, tumorigenesis, and therapeutic interventions.