Core provides vision researchers with confocal, multiphoton, and macroview fluorescence microscopy together with histology services. Instrumentation includes Olympus FV1200 and FV1000 confocal systems, an Olympus FV1000-MPE multiphoton laser scanning microscope, an Olympus MVX10 macroview fluorescence system for bright-field and fluorescence imaging of flat mount tissues such as retinas and corneas, a Leica cryostat for sectioning, and Nikon E400 and E800 microscopes with dedicated review stations. Histology services include block cassettes, and special staining, and unstained sections.

Core provides vision researchers with in vivo imaging and functional analysis of visual system disease models, using instrumentation comparable to that used in clinical ophthalmology so that findings in animal models translate to human disease. Instrumentation includes Diagnosys electroretinography systems, Bioptigen SD optical coherence tomography, optokinetic tracking, Micron III and IV imaging systems with slit lamp and laser attachments, Zeiss operating microscopes with imaging, and specialized environmental housing including dark adaptation, dark rearing, and light damage. The core operates at two campus locations and also provides genotyping services for transgenic and mutant mouse and chick strains.

Core provides instrumentation and expertise for single-cell analysis in models of ocular development, degeneration, infection, and inflammation. Instrumentation includes a Cytek Aurora full-spectrum flow cytometer, a Cytek Aurora CS cell sorter, and a Luminex 200 multiplex suspension array system, together with an Agilent wound scratch tool, an Agilent Lionheart XL plate imager, and a CellZScope for real-time barrier physiology. Services include assisted and independent instrument use, training, panel and experiment design, sample preparation, and data analysis, with particular expertise in high-autofluorescence ocular tissues.

Core provides access to instrumentation in flow cytometry including the Cytek Aurora Evo analyzer and the Cytek Aurora CS. Services provided include guidance in flow cytometry sample preparation, panel design, instrument usage, cell sorting, troubleshooting, data analysis including proteomics, metabolomics, bulk RNA sequencing, single cell RNA sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics. Provides consultation in experimental design, training and guidance in data analysis, and assistance with troubleshooting.

Offers access to instrumentation, training and services for structure determination of macromolecular molecules using single crystal X-ray diffraction and/or cryo-EM Single Particle Analysis (SPA). Instrumentation is available for initial crystallization trials, optimization of crystallization, single crystal X-ray diffraction and data collection at synchrotron radiation facilities, as well as electron microscopy grid preparation for cryo-EM (SPA), screening and data collection using a Thermo Scientific Tundra Cryo-TEM and assistance for data collection at national laboratories.

Offers access to instrumentation, training, and services for protein expression, purification, and biophysical characterization. In addition to instrument access, PPCC personnel offer advice, hands-on training, education, and collaboration. Provides a range of protein purification and characterization equipment.

The Samuel Roberts Noble Microscopy Laboratory, the core imaging facility of the University of Oklahoma, is a central shared use facility offering access to instrumentation, training, and service using advanced light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Our mission is to provide effective and efficient access to core imaging and analytical characterization technologies. We welcome all OU-Norman, OUHSC, and OMRF student, faculty, and staff researchers at our centralized location the OU-Norman main campus. Clients from other universities, foundations and industry are welcome to use this equipment as well, and such work may be done on an invoice or contract basis.

In addition to instrument access, SRNML personnel offer advice, hands-on training, education, and research collaboration. The SRNML aims to promote, enable, and encourage cutting-edge education and research using the core’s instrumentation.

We have a range of sample preparation equipment available; our staff work with users and provide training. Please see our equipment and getting started pages for more information, and don’t hesitate to contact us.

The goal of the Cancer Tissue Pathology Core is to provide high-quality tissue processing, histology and staining services to SCC members and other investigators. The Core provides tissue processing, embedding, sectioning, histochemical staining of mounted slides, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for paraffin embedded and frozen tissues, immunocytochemical (ICC) staining for cultured cells (as tissue sections or cytospin slides), evaluation of new antibodies for IHC staining, enzyme histochemistry and special staining. The Core also provides defined analyses including RNA / DNA preparation, reverse transcription and cDNA synthesis from total RNA, construction, staining and analysis of tissue microarrays, and construction and analysis of reverse proteomics array from user-defined biospecimens. The Core is flexible to accommodate the development of new techniques and expanding its services based on the research requirements of SCC members and other investigators.

Mission statement. The INBRE Data Science Core will provide state-of-the-art research data science analysis support for the Oklahoma scientific community, foster educational efforts to train Oklahoma scientists in the use of data science tools for research purposes, and promote data science education for undergraduate and high school students in the state of Oklahoma.

Summary. In pursuit of this mission, the INBRE Bioinformatics Core Facility provides support to biomedical research and educational institutions in the state of Oklahoma, other regional IDeA-participating states, and elsewhere. To date, research support has focused primarily in two areas. 1) Global analysis of gene expression data using custom spotted microarrays and commercial Affymetrix and Combimatrix arrays to examine gene expression patterns in mice, adenovirus-infected cells, and a variety of bacterial systems. Current work is transitioning to transcriptome analysis using RNA-seq methodology. 2) Genome annotation and comparative genomics analysis, including studies on several bacterial and viral pathogens important for human and agricultural disease. These studies have included informatics support for genome sequencing projects, annotation support, and post-sequence studies such as phylogenetic inference and recombination analyses. Other projects during the current funding period have focused on using bioinformatics-based strategies for developing hypotheses that are amenable to experimental testing. Bioinformatics educational support has developed a variety of resources used by INBRE network PUIs and CCs in Oklahoma, providing lecture and laboratory materials. Examples of these educational experiences include analysis of laboratory data for DNA barcoding, instructional materials for protein structure analyses and phylogenetic analyses, and microbial and viral genome sequence annotation and analysis. We have provided career counseling to undergraduate students, both individually and in large groups. We have supervised both undergraduate summer interns and high school interns to enhance interest in pursuing bioinformatics as a career path. Additionally, we have provided instructional materials for high school teachers interested in incorporating bioinformatics into their lesson plans.

The OUHSC Laboratory for Molecular Biology and Cytometry Research (LMBCR) is an academic core facility offering a wide range of services involving DNA, protein, and whole cell analysis. Services include sequencing (custom PCR, plasmid and DNA, RNA, 16s, miRNA, ChIP ) and microsatellite detection via the Illumina MiSeq or SeqStudio capillary sequencer. Expression analysis can also be performed using the Nanostring nCounter SPRINT platform. Our services also include Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics using the Waters Synapt with 2D UPLC. We provide both qualitative and quantitative analysis of protein samples (cell lysate, IP, in solution) as well as simple protein identification from solution or gel slice. The Flow and Imaging division offers BSL2 cell sorting, flow cytometry, Luminex, and confocal imaging. All services are offered to OUHSC researchers, other external academic entities and industry.