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
HANDS-ON SERVICES
• Consultations
• Troubleshooting
• Protocol Development
• Cell Line Maintenance and Banking
TRAINING
• Instrumentation Demos
• Individual Hands-On Training
• Workshops
Contact us at ivac@une.edu for more details.

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

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.