University of Utah Shared Scientific Core Resources
http://www.cores.utah.edu/
The Biostatistics Core facility offers Ph.D.-level consultation for grant proposals, manuscripts and other
research activities requiring biostatistical input. The available services include sample size and power
calculations, the development of study designs and analysis plans, interpretation of analysis results and advice.
Tom Greene, Ph.D., Director
School of Medicine, 5C124
(801) 585-3812
Tom.greene@hsc.utah.edu
Greg Stoddard, M.S.
(801) 587-9250
greg.stoddard@hsc.utah.edu
The Cell Imaging/ Fluorescence Microscopy Core facility provides training and consultation on the
use of confocal microscopy, widefield automated microscopy, and software analysis tools for the deconvolution
and quantitative analysis of image data. Three Olympus confocal microscopes (one FV1000 and two FV300s)
can be used with live or fixed samples. Sophisticated image acquisition and analysis regimes are possible,
including time-lapse, z-series, ratiometric analysis, and deconvolution.
Chris Rodesch, Ph.D., Director Radiobiology Bldg, Room 55
801-587-7964
crodesch@cores.utah.edu
The DNA Sequencing and Genomics Core lab is equipped with state-of-the-art high throughput
capillary sequencers and robotics. It offers 24-hr turnaround time sequencing services at very competitive
prices. It also provides individualized troubleshooting help with sequencing data.
Other custom services include primer walking, PCR services for sequencing based mutation detection,
genotyping and SNP discovery, as well as custom sequence data analysis and assembly. Robotics services are
also available for those wishing to automate a variety of lab tasks, from 384-well plate pipetting to DNA and
plasmid preps using the Biomek FX and Velocity 11 Vprep robotic stations.
Helaman Escobar, Director
School of Medicine, 4A432
801-581-4736
DNA@cores.utah.edu
The Oligonucleotide/Peptide Synthesis Core facility provides synthetic peptides and
oligonucleotides, with specific modifications as needed. Additionally, the facility performs Edman sequencing of
proteins/peptides, including the identification of phosphorylation sites using this methodology.
Robert Schackmann, Ph.D., Director
Radiobiology Bldg, Room 12
801-581-4051
bschackmann@cores.utah.edu
The Electron Microscopy Core facility provides investigators with a variety of electron microscopy
capabilities and image analysis (quantitative morphology). Technical services offered by the core include
transmission and scanning electron microscopy, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry.
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Nancy Chandler, Sr. Lab Specialist
801-581-4571
nancy.chandler@hsc.utah.edu
Kurt Albertine, Ph.D., Director
Radiobiology Bldg, Room 71
801-581-4178
kurt.albertine@hsc.utah.edu
The Flow Cytometry Core facility offers cell sorting and quantitative fluorescent measurements. The facility
has a Becton-Dickinson Vantage cell sorter, a Union Biometrica “worm sorter” to fractionate C. elegans based
on developmental stage, viability and expression of fluorescent proteins, and two FACscans.
Wayne Green, Ph.D., Director
Wintrobe Bldg, Room 656
801-581-8641
wayne.green@cores.utah.edu
The Genomics Core facility provides full-service genotyping, from PCR set-up through data analysis, for
genome-wide scans, fine mapping, allelic imbalance (LOH), microsatellite instability, and SNP detection using
capillary electrophoresis and/or TaqMan Assays. The facility also offers researchers access to real-time
quantitative PCR instruments (ABI 7900HT) for gene expression and SNP genotyping experiments. Training,
consulting and software are made available free of charge to those users. There is also availability to
accommodate large SNP genotyping projects using the ABI SNPlex detection system. Please contact the Core
for more details.
Helaman Escobar, Director
School of Medicine, 4A432
801-581-4736
DNA@cores.utah.edu
The Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Core facility provides mass spectrometry services and
consultation for the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) research communities, and
operates as a fee-for-service resource. The primary focus of the Facility is geared toward supporting proteomics
research and improving available mass spectrometry techniques for biomedical investigations; our mission is to
provide the highest quality analysis of proteins and other biomolecules.
The Facility is equipped with state-of-the-art proteomics instrumentation, including a new FTMS instrument
(LTQ-FT), as well as other high-performance mass spectrometers, to provide a wide range of proteomics
services, techniques, and capabilities. The LTQ-FT instrument has extremely high sensitivity for protein ID
(attomole-range) and is well equipped with CID, IRMPD, and ECD fragmentation techniques for mapping
modifications (e.g. phosphorylation, GlcNAc) and enabling other proteomics applications, such as “top-down”
protein analysis. LC/MS/MS instruments are interfaced with nanoLC, for ultimate sensitivity and
chromatographic performance.
The MS and Proteomics Core Facility also continues to provide basic mass spectrometry services for the
University, as well as biotech companies in the region and other academic institutions. A broad range of
research applications are supported and various sample types are accepted for analysis (e.g. natural products,
synthetic peptides, small molecules, polymers, PCR products, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules).
Chad C. Nelson, Ph.D., Director
490B, Biomedical Research Building (BPRB)
801-585-9865, 801-581-5018
chad.nelson@genetics.utah.edu
Krishna Parsawar, Ph.D., Manager
490C, BPRB
801-581-5018
krishna@genetics.utah.edu
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Mike Hanson, Ph.D., Analyst
470, BPRB
801-581-5018
mike.hanson@genetics.utah.edu
The Microarray Core facility provides researchers with access to the Affymetrix and Agilent Technologies
microarray platforms. These services are complimented by the acquisition of an Illumina Genome Analyzer
which enables the facility to also perform massively parallel DNA sequencing. The combined support for these
technologies offers a diverse set of tools for researchers that include measuring gene, exon, or miRNA
expression, SNP and DNA copy number profiling, location analysis of DNA binding proteins, defining DNA
methylation status, and the sequencing of genomic DNA or resequencing of targeted regions of DNA
Brian Dalley, Ph.D., Director
Huntsman Cancer Institute, Room 3363
801-585-7192
Huntsman Cancer Institute, Room 3350
801-581-6346
brian.dalley@hci.utah.edu
The Bioinformatics Core facility provides consulting, training, and analysis services for researchers using
one-color or two-color microarrays. The services include consultation on experimental design (gene expression,
CGH, or ChIP-chip), choice of appropriate microarray platform, selection of analysis methods or tools, and
annotation of microarrays.
Brett Milash, Co-Director
Huntsman Cancer Institute, Room 3346
brett.milash@hci.utah.edu
801-585-0567
David Nix, Co-Director
Huntsman Cancer Institute
david.nix@hci.utah.edu
801-587-4611
The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Core facility helps researchers determine the structure of proteins,
nucleic acids and natural products. The instruments available in the facility include a Varian Unity 500 MHz
NMR, a Varian Inova 600 MHz NMR and a Varian Mercury 400.
Jack Skalicky, Ph.D., Director
Skaggs Hall, Room 295E
801-585-7363
skalicky@biochem.utah.edu
The Protein Interaction (Biacore) facility provides characterization of the assembly state, affinity, and
kinetics of macromolecular binding interactions. Currently, the facility has 8 SPR-based biosensors including the
BIACORE 3000, 2000 and S51 optical biosensors. These instruments can be used to study interactions
between proteins, oligonucleotides, oligosaccharides
David Myszka, Ph.D., Director
School of Medicine, Room 4A417
801-585-5358
dmyszka@cores.utah.edu
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The Small Animal Imaging Core facility has a small animal computed tomography (CT) scanner for use
with sacrificed or live animals. Uses include embryonic and adult specimen anatomy, bone mineral density,
bone mineral content, bodyfat content, and
Osama Abdullah
A300 (basement level)
E.E. Jones Medical Science Building (EEJMRB)
oabdullah@cores.utah.edu
Edward W. Hsu, PH.D.
Assistant Professor
Bioengineering department
Warnock Engineering Building room 2857
Salt Lake City, UT. 84112-5331
(801) 585-7550
edward.hsu@utah.edu
The Transgenic and Gene-targeting Mouse Core facility is available to make transgenic mice using
both pronuclear injection of embryos and gene-targeting of ES cells and blastocyst injection. The Transgenic
and Gene-targeting Core offers related procedures including sperm freezing, embryo freezing, rederivation of
mouse lines, IVF, karyotyping, and has added new services such as ICSI and development of primary ES cell
lines. The Core is available for technical advice regarding injection procedures, cell culture techniques, vector
design and construction; and we are open to new ideas and available to try new methods that you are interested
in. The Core maintains the necessary mouse colonies for basic procedures, now including a colony of flp mice.
Susan Tamowski, Director
801-581-3437
tamowski@genetics.utah.edu
Mario Capecchi, Ph.D., Co-Director
801-581-7096
capecchi@genetics.utah.edu
Phillip Clair, M.S.
801-585-7414
pclair@genetics.utah.edu
Leslie Jerominski, M.S.
801-581-3437
leslie.jerominski@genetics.utah.edu
Richard Focht
801-585-7414
rfocht@genetics.utah.edu
The CZAR (Zebrafish) Core facility provides state-of-the-art systems for housing, breeding, and doing
experiments with zebrafish, an emerging vertebrate model system. It comprises 6000 fish tanks and redundant
circulating water systems, and houses a large number of wildtype and mutant fish strains. It allows large genetic
screens carried out as collaborations between multiple laboratories, and can provide animals and training for
laboratories wishing to try pilot zebrafish experiments.
Gretchen King, Ph.D., Director
Radiobiology Building, Room 10
801-585-6574
gking@cores.utah.edu
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The Worm Core Closed
has been developed to facilitate research for laboratories new to the C. elegans field and
those already established in the use of this model organism. The offered services include technical
training, creation of transgenics, cell identification and worm sorting (see:
http://web.mac.com/colinthacker/iWeb/UofUWormCore/Home.html). We have recently developed high
throughput procedures for RNA interference (RNAi)
screens, allowing rapid genome-wide analysis of gene function. The Worm Core facility also acts as a
central resource for RNAi clones (Ahringer and ORFeome RNAi feeding libraries), expression vectors,
common worm mutant strains, and transgenic animals that express a variety of fluorescent proteins
useful for cell identification and/or screens.
A new web-based, order-tracking/Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) was
implemented last summer. After a rather rocky start, the system is now functioning well and continues
to be improved. Thank you for your patience during the implementation phase! If you have comments
about the system, please fill out the cores survey (http://www.cores.utah.edu/).
Comments, concerns, or questions should be addressed to Janet Lindsley, Associate Director of
the Core Resources
(janet@biochem.utah.edu), or Jerry Kaplan, Director of the Core Resources and Associate Vice
President of Basic
Sciences at the School of Medicine (jerry.kaplan@path.utah.edu).
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