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 in Vitro Analytical Core (IVAC) facilitates the mission of the UNE Center for Cell Signaling Research (CCSR) by identifying molecular mechanisms and cellular processes in aging, stress, bioenergetics, and cellular metabolism by providing the critical expertise and instrumentation to study cell-cell interactions and to delineate intracellular pathways in targeted cell types.
The IVAC provides training, instrumentation, and technical services for the development, analysis, and storage of in vitro cell models (such as stably transfected cell lines using genetically encoded biosensors) across a wide range of biological and biomedical applications, as well as various types of sample preparation for downstream analyses such as mass spectrometry and RNA-seq.
Services:
INSTRUMENTATION
• QuantStudio 3 real-time PCR system
• FLIPR Tetra Fluorescent Imaging Plate Reader
• CellInsight CX7 LZR High Content Analysis Platform
• Agilent Seahorse XF HS Mini
• Mammalian Cell Culture Facilities
• General Protein Analysis Equipment including Jess Automated Western Blot System
HANDS-ON SERVICES
• Consultations
• Troubleshooting
• Protocol Development
• Cell Line Maintenance and Banking
TRAINING
• Instrumentation Demos
• Individual Hands-On Training
• Workshops
For service-related questions, please contact us at ivac@une.edu for more details.
Please contact the core at ivac@une.edu for instructions on acknowledgement/citation, as there is new NIH guidance with which we must comply.

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.

Mass spectrometry using hybrid quadrupole TOF (Sciex 5600 TripleTOF) and triplequadrupole (Sciex 4000QTRAP) instruments. LC-MS proteomics, including data-dependent analysis for protein identification, and data-independent analysis (e.g., SWATH) proteomics for identification and quantitation.
Lipidomic workflows using PAL-RSI for direct infusion and MSMS/All quanrirative workflows for identification of thousands of molecular species.

The Mouse Transgenic Core Facility provides a series of high quality services for generating genetically modified mice. These services include nucleic aside microinjection into mouse zygotes and full service CRISPR/Cas microinjection services.

The Histopathology Core facility was established to provide Histology services to the investigators associated with the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE)in Regenerative Medicine. The objective is to provide high quality stained tissue sections on microscope slides to support the research at the institute. Services include tissue fixation, processing, embedding, sectioning, staining and coverslipping of paraffin, plastic or frozen tissue sections. Staining of tissue sections ranges from routine H&E's (Hematoxylin-Eosin) to special stains demonstrating specific tissue structures such as collagen, amyloid, bone, cartilage, vessels, kidney basement membranes, hematopoetic cells and PAS reactions. Stains offered include Trichrome, Von Kossa, PicroSirius Red, Elastic, Giemsa, PAS and others are developed and provided as needed. The Core offers antibody validation services with respect to immunohistochemistry and provides a wide range of immunohistochemical stains. In addition, the Core generates custom tissue microarrays and performs bone histomorphometry.

The Molecular Phenotyping core provides instrumentation, training, and services for in vitro cell phenotyping. Specifically, we provide facilities and training for automated nucleic acids purification, microarray analysis, quantitative PCR, and automated immunofluorescence cell marker analysis and screening.