BCM Advanced Technology Laboratories (Core Labs)
The Advanced Technology Laboratories (Core Laboratories), administered by the Office of Research, are available to BCM and external investigators on a fee-for-service basis. These core laboratories provide state-of-the-art instrumentation and technological support at a reasonable cost.
Director
Richard G. Cook, Ph.D.
713-798-6318
Analyte Center
The Analyte Center provides analytical services to the research community within Baylor College of Medicine and to investigators at other institutions. We provide access to state of the art gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, tandem mass spectroscopy, and high pressure liquid chromatography for the purpose of quantitative analysis of small organic molecules.
Director
William O'Brien, Ph.D.
713-798-5484
Baculovirus/Monoclonal Antibody Core Facility
This core provides custom services for construction of monoclonal antibody producing B-cell hybridomas and recombinant baculoviruses for expression of proteins in insect cells. After construction of hybridomas, the core mass produces and purifies MAbs from large-scale hybridoma cultures grown either in conventional spinner vessels (up to 5.0 liters) or in hollow-fiber bioreactors. Baculovirus recombinant proteins are expressed in either conventional spinner cultures or oxygenated bioreactors. Key core equipment includes 27°C BOD incubators and Applikon 5 liter oxygenated bioreactors for large scale growth of Sf9 insect cells, hollow-fiber bioreactors (FiberCell Systems) for large scale production of hybridomas, and MAbs in vitro and FPLC systems for MAb purification.
Director
Dean P. Edwards, Ph.D.
713-798-2326
Lab Manager
Kurt Christensen
713-798-2325
Bioinformatics Research Center
The Bioinformatics Research Center provides a core competency and focus for the wide range of excellent biomedical computing activities at Baylor College of Medicine. Our primary purpose is to engage in high quality research bioinformatics, both in our own projects and in collaborations with other groups. Secondarily, we provide some services (for a fee) for which we are the most appropriate host. These include the GCG suite of programs, statistical software, GeneSpring, and various computer server hosting options.
Director
David Steffen, Ph.D.
713-798-2098
Blot Analysis Core
This core provides instrumentation for users to perform a variety of image analyses (radioactivity, fluorescence, luminescence, densitometry). Instrumentation includes Molecular Dynamics Storm 860 phosphorimager/fluorimager, Molecular Dynamics Phosphorimager SF and Molecular Dynamics Densitometer SI. The newest addition is the Kodak Image Station 2000MM Multi-Modal Imager. It provides high intensity illumination at tissue penetrating wavelengths (green to near IR) along with high sensitivity luminescence, radioisotope and X-ray detection for unmatched in-vivo and in-vitro molecular imaging. It has CCD-based imaging with selectable multi-wavelength illumination (370nm – 770nm) and proprietary radioisotope and X-ray detection. It has outstanding sensitivity and resolution, with a low noise cooled CCD, mega pixel camera, high quality 10x Zoom optics and selectable plane of focus.
Director
Lawrence Donehower, Ph.D.
713-798-3594
Cytometry and Cell Sorting Core
The Cytometry and Cell Sorting Core at Baylor College of Medicine provides training, instrumentation, technical expertise, and software for flow cytometric analyses and cell sorting.
Director
Joel M. Sederstrom, M.B.S.
713-798-3868
DNA Sequencing Core
This core provides automated sequencing on Applied Bio-systems Model 373A XL upgrade Sequencer and the ABI Prism 310 Genetic Analyzer. The core provides sequence data from single-stranded DNA in M13 or Bluescript helper phage, double-stranded DNA in a variety of common cloning vectors, and amplified PCR fragments. An internal control reaction is run with each set of reactions to ensure consistent quality standards. Sequences can often be read as far as 600 bp and reads of 500 bp are normally achieved. Quality of sequencing is directly proportional to the quality of the DNA template.
Director
Lawrence Chan, M.B., D.Sc.
713-798-8577
Frensley Imaging Center
The Frensley Imaging Center provides imaging support. Among the services offered are: X-ray CT, microPET, microSPECT, fluroescence, and bioluminescence imaging for small animals as well as imaging probe development and protocol and experimental design.
Director
Shi Ke., M.D.
713-798-6025
Genetically Engineered Mouse Core (Transgenic Core)
The GEM Core provides BCM investigators with advice and services requiring the manipulation of mouse gametes to facilitate research involving genetically engineered mice. The GEM Core provides the following services and all can be scheduled and tracked using Mouse Embryo Manipulation Services, MEMS: DNA microinjection (traditional transgene DNA constructs or BAC DNA into the one cell mouse embryo), ES cell microinjection into blastocysts, strain rederivation into a pathogen free strain, and embryo cryopreservation for safe preservation of valuable mouse strains.
Director
Franco DeMayo, Ph.D.
713-798-6241
Integrated Microscopy Core
Fluorescence, confocal, deconvolution and electron microscopy services are available. Instrumentation, available in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, includes a Beckman-Coulter IC-100 (high throughput microscopy and analysis system); Zeiss AxioPlan2 Microscope with CoolSnap HQ CCD MetaView, MetaMorph; Zeiss LSM 510 META Confocal/Spectral Imaging Microscope; Applied Precision SoftWoRx Image Restoration Microscope (deconvolution); Hitachi H-7500 Transmission Electron Microscope with Gatan 2Kx2K CCD; Silicon Graphics and PC Workstations; RMC Ultramicrotome.
Director
Michael Mancini, Ph.D.
713-798-8952
Interdepartmental Deconvolution Microscope Core
A DeltaVision restoration microscope (commonly referred to as a Deconvolution Microscope) was made available to the Baylor community through a consortium of the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular and Human Genetics, and Neuroscience and the Office of Research. This instrument provides special purpose microscopy for those at Baylor who require high quality two-, three- and four-dimensional digital micrographs. The system is particularly suitable for samples where spatial resolution is critical and for recording images from live material. It consists of a modified Nikon inverted microscope, an ultra precise motor driven x, y, z stage, a high speed (low light) MicroMax digital camera, a Bioptech temperature controlled perfusion chamber for live cell imaging, a Silicon Graphics O2 computer with software for image acquisition and a dual processor P4 Linux based file server for image deconvolution. Filters are available for most common fluorochromes including DAPI, CFP, FITC/GFP, YFP, and Cy5.
Director
Shelley Sazer, Ph.D.
713-798-4531
Microarray Core
The Microarray Core provides Baylor College of Medicine-affiliated researchers access to microarray technology. The Microarray Core currently provides arrays for mouse and human gene expression. Custom arrays of other genomes and private clone sets can be constructed upon request. The MCF offers sample quality control, labeling, hybridization, scanning, quantitation, and data analysis services as well. This facility serves as the source for experimental design, probe preparation protocols, hybridization, and image scanning for cDNA arrays as well as Affymetrix GeneChips. ® The core also offers data analysis services as well as Quantitative PCR (QPCR) for validation of gene expression results.
Director
Lisa White, Ph.D.
713-798-7699
Molecular Core Laboratory
Assisting BCM faculty for more than 10 years, this lab offers 24-hour customer service, DNA sequencing, DNA synthesis, and QPRC. SNP analysis service is also available. Located at 1102 Bates, Houston, Texas 77030, Feigin Center 790. For pricing and other relevant information, please contact:
Director
Partha Sen, Ph.D.
832-824-4764
psen@bcm.edu
Technician
Colby Navarro
832-824-4767
ccnavarr@bcm.edu
Mouse Phenotyping Core
The Mouse Phenotyping Core facility contains a multitude of testing capabilities for the assessment of mouse models from embryo to adult. Access to the MPC is open to all BCM and non-affiliated BCM investigators. Current equipment includes: MRI, CT, ultrasound, body composition/densitometry, indirect calorimetry, telemetry, and indirect blood pressure. Workstations for image reconstruction and data analysis are also available within the core.
Manager
Belinda Rivera
713-798-5040
Protein Chemistry/Proteomics Core
This core provides a variety of protein related/proteomic services to investigators at BCM. Available services include peptide synthesis (a variety of scales, HPLC purification and numerous modifications are available), amino acid analysis, N-terminal sequencing by Edman degradation, mass determinations by mass spectrometry (LC or nanospray ESI triple quadrupole/ion trap instrument and MALDI-TOF/TOF instrument), analysis of small molecules, peptides, proteins, in-gel digests and protein identification by MALDI-TOF (peptide mass-matching) and/or MS/MS, phosphorylation site identification by MS. The core also can provide peptide-loaded fluorescent MHC class I tetramers for identification of antigen specific T cells by flow cytometry.
Director
Richard G. Cook, Ph.D.
713-798-6318
Thrombosis Core
The Thrombosis Core Lab conducts clinical transitional thrombosis and hemostasis research. It is affiliated with the Thrombosis Research Section, Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. The lab provides assays of platelet function, coagulation, fibrinolysis and custom-designed assays for specific needs. Lab scientists and technicians can also assist with study design and data management. See our list of services .
Director
Jing-Fei Dong, M.D., Ph.D.
713-798-5950
Vector Development Core
The specialized Vector Development Laboratory is part of the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy. The resources of the VDL are available to every investigator at Baylor/TMC as well as to outside investigators. Expertise in all current vector systems is provided by a group of experienced investigators, dedicated to the production of viral and non-viral vectors (Adeno, AAV, Herpes, Retrovirus and non-viral) for use in basic research. Because vectors are prepared to Good Laboratory Practice standards, these agents, and the preclinical data generated from their use, can be valuable in the later development of clinical trials in gene therapy. The Vector Development Laboratory will provide comprehensive service in the design, creation, production, and analysis of almost all vectors currently in clinical or pre-clinical use. To help investigators chose the optimum vector system for their proposed application, the VDL has available many different "off the shelf" vectors containing a range of marker genes.
Directors
Alan Davis, Ph.D. (viral)
713-798-1237
Nancy Smyth Templeton, Ph.D. (nonviral)
713-798-1231