USC School of Pharmacy Core Facilities
USC School of Pharmacy maintains multiple core laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment suites and
appropriate research staff support, providing facilities not typically maintained in individual labs. The three main
laboratories, Translational Research Laboratory, Histology and Lentiviral Laboratory, are all located in the John
Stauffer Pharmaceutical Sciences Center.
Translational Research Laboratory
The USC School of Pharmacy Translational Research Laboratory (TRlab) is equipped with a wide variety of
technologically advanced instruments essential for cutting edge biomedical discovery and therapeutic
development research. The instruments in the TRlab are available for use by all USC researchers, and
training and technical expertise is provided as needed. The laboratories are located on the 4th – 6th floors in the
Pharmaceutical Sciences Center.
Translational Research Laboratory Equipment
Instrument (Manufacturer)
Applications
Molecular Biology
OpenArray Real-Time PCR
Performs and analyzes digital PCR experiments for accurate and
System (ABI)
sensitive quantitation of nucleic acid targets
7900HT Fast Real-Time PCR
Performs and analyzes quantitative PCR experiments for accurate
System (ABI)
and sensitive quantitation of nucleic acid targets
Experion Automated
Microfludic chip-based electrophoresis analysis of DNA, RNA and
Electrophoresis System (Bio-Rad)
protein size, quantity and quality.
Non-denaturing front-end sample fractionation, comprising a stepEdge 200 Separation System
wise extraction of a particle mixture using extracting media of
(Prospect Biosystems)
increasing densities.
ChemiDoc XRS+ System (BioImaging of a wide array of samples from large handcast
Rad)
polyacrylamide gels to small agarose gels and various blots.
Detection methods include fluorescence, colorimetry, densitometry,
VersaDoc Imaging System (Biochemiluminescence and chemifluorescence.
Rad)
Cell & Immunobiology
Gene Pulser Xcell Electroporation
Cuvette-based electroporation of both mammalian and bacteria and
System (Bio-Rad)
fungal cell types.
Gene Pulser MXcell
Microplate-based electroporation of mammalian cells – especially
Electroporation System (Bio-Rad)
useful for primary and hard-to-transfect cell types.
Immunophenotyping, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis, cell proliferation
LSR II Flow Cytometer (BD)
assays
Captures microscopic images from a 96-well plate and automated
Pathway 435 High-Content
image and data analysis. An additional module allows for multiBioimager (BD)
parameter analysis of neurite outgrowth in a high-throughput
manner.
XF24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer
Simultaneous measurement of two major energy-yielding pathways
(Seahorse)
– anaerobic glycolysis and aerobic respiration in cell cultures or
isolated mitochondria in a 24-well plate format.
Both magnetic and polystyrene bead-based multiplex analysis of up
Bio-Plex Suspension Array System
to 100 biomolecules (proteins, peptides or nucleic acids) in a single
(Bio-Rad)
sample.
Variable-mode imager that produces digital images of radioactive,
Typhoon 8600 (GE Healthcare)
fluorescent, or chemiluminescent samples.
Protein/Nanoparticle Characterization
DynaPro Plate Reader (Wyatt)
Measurement of the hydrodynamic radius of particles, polymers, or
proteins in solution in the size range of 2-1000 nm in diameter.
Differential Scanning Calorimeter
Provides information about protein subunit composition, folding and
8500 (Perkin Elmer)
thermal stability; measures binding thermodynamics
J-815 Circular Dichroism
Provides information on protein secondary structure (alpha-helix,
specropolarimeter (Jasco)
beta-sheet or random coil); measures thermal denaturation
Analytical Instrumentation
Jobin Yvon Fluorolog-3
Spectrofluorometer (Horiba)
GENios Pro Multifunction
Microplate Reader with Injectors
(Tecan)
F-2500 Fluorescence
Spectrophotometer (Hitachi)
SpectraMax Gemini EM Microplate
Spectrofluorometer (Molecular
Devices)
Lmax Microplate Luminometer with
Injectors (Molecular Devices)
1450 MicroBeta TriLux Liquid
Scintillation and Luminescence
Counter (Perkin Elmer)
EnVision 2103 Multilabel Reader
(Perkin Elmer)
Steady-state and time-resolved characterization of fluorescent
samples
Variety of multidetection features including fluorescence intensity
and polarization, luminescence and absorbance-based applications.
Cuvette-based fluorescence analysis with a 220 to 730 nm
wavelength range, scan speeds of up to 3000 nm/min and
resolution of 2 nm.
Variety of fluorescence-based applications, including top and
bottom reading optics for both solution and cell-based assays, dual
monochromators enabling selection of any wavelength in 1 nm
increments, wavelength scanning, well scanning and auto PMT
gain.
Variety of luminescence-based applications. Additional injectors
allow for dynamic assays.
High efficiency, low background counting of beta, gamma, and glow
luminescence samples in a 24- or 96-well microplate or a 4ml
microvial.
Variety of applications based on technologies including
fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, fluorescence polarization,
luminescence, absorbance, and Alphascreen.
Histology Laboratory
The USC School of Pharmacy Histology Laboratory, located on the 4th floor of the Pharmaceutical Sciences
Center, provides services on tissue processing, sectioning and staining. Expert advice is available concerning
staining techniques and the interpretation of microscopic images. The laboratory also houses several
instruments available for use by USC researchers, and training for their use is provided as needed.
Histology Laboratory Equipment
Instrument
Applications
Microm Rotary Microtome
Cuts thin sections of paraffin embedded tissues.
Microm Cryostat HM 525
Frozen tissue samples are thin sectioned with this instrument.
Microm Spin Tissue Processor
Automatically dehydrates and paraffin infiltrates tissue samples.
STP 120
Microm Tissue Embedding Center
Paraffin infiltrated tissues are embedded in wax and mounted on
EC 350
cassettes with this instrument.
Cuts sections of formaldehyde fixed soft tissues. Sections are
Vibratome
mounted onto microscope slides.
Processes bone samples and other tissues that are difficult to
CryoJane
mount as frozen sections.
Slide-mounted specimens are coverslipped and preserved in
Shandon Hyperclean Station
mounting medium.
Examines and photographs microscope slides. Saves data onto
Zeiss Axioskop Microscope
CDs.
Lentiviral Laboratory
The USC School of Pharmacy Lentiviral Laboratory provides services for production of small-scale lentiviral
stocks for delivery and expression of transgenes or shRNA of interest. The engineered lentiviral constructs are
either provided by the end-users or produced in the lab according to the needs of the customers. The lab also
helps with stable cell line generation and characterization.