The Behavior Core provides a comprehensive approach to the research needs of the Center for Pain Research investigators, UNE researchers, and the external research community using the highest level of expertise, training, and instrumentation. The core provides in-house validation of cutting-edge models of pain and relevant co-morbidities to advance the pain field and early-stage drug discovery.

Services provided include (but are not limited to) the following:
- General Behavioral Phenotyping: Observational Screens, Motor Function
- Pain/Sensory Testing: Thermal, Mechanical, Chemical
- Additional Neurobehavioral Tests: Psychiatric, Addiction, Learning and Memory
- Surgical Models: Neuropathic pain, Post-operative pain
- Miscellaneous Systems: GI Transit, DXA/x-ray scans, and AI video analysis
- Necropsy Services: Perfusions and Post-mortem tissue collection

Other Services:
- Consultation in choosing behavioral test and statistical tests for assessing results
- Training in rodent handling, instrumentation, and behavior or surgical techniques
- Staff expertise includes surgical methods for producing pain models; dosing of drugs/anesthetics including central, systemic and localized administration; and tissue extractions

The Histology and Imaging Core at UNE (part of the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence for the Study of Pain and Sensory Function) is a comprehensive histology and light microscopy facility offering technical expertise and consultation services to UNE researchers and the broader academic & commercial research community. We offer a full range of histology services including cryo, paraffin, and plastic embedding & sectioning, routine/special stains and IHC optimization. Our imaging services span basic brightfield and epifluorescence to laser scanning confocal and 2-photon excitation microscopy. We offer slide scanning/digitization services using our Olympus VS200 slide scanner. Please contact Peter Caradonna (pcaradonna@une.edu) for further inquiries.

We support an Asylum Research Cypher ES Atomic Force Microscope (2016) with gas, fluid, elasticity, force pulling, and a variety of conductivity/magnetism probe capabilities. We also support a Leica SP5 Scanning Laser Confocal Microscope (2012) with two standard PMTs and one photon counting detector and UV through red excitation sources.

We support and encourage the use of these microscopes in student activities and research both internally and externally. Confocal user fees are found on our website, please contact us with any further information regarding their use.