The BioImage Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Core helps research scientists and imaging core facilities produce, handle, safeguard, and share high-quality bioimage data.

Incorporating BioImage DMS into your proposal will ensure compliance with funders' and disciplinary standards for image data management and sharing, making your grant more competitive and your research more fundable. Using BioImage DMS during your day-to-day research reduces the effort required to plan experiments, track experimental conditions, and produce data. Finally, BioImage DMS eases the burden of data publication and sharing when the project is published, accelerating the time to research.

Overall, this will make your data more amenable to advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, thus driving computational approaches to gain insight from your data, facilitating collaboration, and increasing the impact of your research.

The Deep Sequencing Core provides a next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform for investigators using Massively Parallel Sequencing by Synthesis, or "Deep Sequencing". The Core analyzes genomic DNA, DNA fractions (e.g. ChIP), cDNA, RNA, and many other library types, including 10X Chromium and NanoString, using an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 or MiSeq/MiSeq Dx. The Core provides assistance with sample preparation (also a service offering) and bioinformatics analysis. The Core also offers sequencing on a Pacific Biosciences Sequel II through the PacBio Core Enterprise.

Core offers the ability to perform both targeted (including stable isotope tracing studies) and untargeted metabolomics and lipidomics experiments using liquid- and gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS and GCMS) on a fee-for-service basis. Offers expertise to assist with every stage of the metabolomics/ lipidomics experimental pipeline, including experimental design, method development, data acquisition and processing, data analysis and interpretation. Offers training on data analysis software including both open-source and vendor proprietary analysis software. Offers access to specialized equipment required for metabolomics/ lipidomics sample extraction and preparation, including a Cryomill and Bead Beater for homogenization of tumors, tissue, stool and whole organisms, and a liquid-handling robot for large scale plasma extractions.

Screening facility assists researchers in developing high-throughput screening assays, performs HT screens of chemical libraries to identify new small molecules that can be used to probe biological processes of interest. Facility coordinates screening efforts of UMass Chan researchers, providing access to diverse chemical libraries and state-of-the art instruments including robotic compound transfer, liquid-handling equipment, imagers and plate readers.

The Biomedical Imaging Group is an interdisciplinary team of engineers and scientists, representing the fields of cell biology, physics, mathematics, and computer science, that combine their expertise in areas such as microscopy, data management, lasers, optoelectronics, applied mathematics, image and signal processing, computer graphics, computer vision, statistics, software engineering, and biophysics, to develop imaging approaches for cell biology.

Since its establishment in the early 1980s, it has been a pioneer in high-resolution 3-D imaging using wide-field fluorescence microscopy together with digital image deconvolution, and image visualization and quantitative analysis techniques, especially as applied to the statistical analysis of images to determine co-localization of fluorescence markers inside cells.

Research in this lab is concerned with both the development and the application of light microscopy and imaging in cell biology and biophysics. Some driving problems include imaging the molecular components driving endocytosis and exocytosis/secretion in various cell types, and the imaging of intracellular calcium signaling in excitable cells such as smooth muscle cells, chromaffin cells, and neurons.

As an example of our achievements, we have developed the TESM microscope that combines Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) with Epi-fluorescence Structured illumination to provide new views of trafficking in the near-plasma membrane domain of cells. We have a unique, custom-built, ultra-high-speed microscope system for imaging the dynamics of intracellular calcium channel events, called "calcium sparks", that are being found to regulate an expanding array of cellular processes. We have a two-photon fluorescence microscope for looking deep inside tissue, completing the range from molecule to organism. Areas of ongoing technology research include high-speed, high-resolution imaging of live cells and tissues, novel image processing approaches, high-performance computing, and computer graphics, with an emphasis on developing open-source tools for the research community.

The Viral Vector Core (VVC) of the Gene Therapy Center uses cutting-edge technologies to create and produce a variety of high quality viral vectors. The goal of the VVC is to provide investigators with the most suitable and efficient gene transfer vectors for their research applications.

The MOLECULAR BIOLOGY CORE LABS provide DNA fragment analysis, Genotyping, and SPR services on an ABI capillary sequencer, and DNA/RNA fragment analysis on the Agilent (Advanced Analytical) Fragment Analyzer. Sequencing library prep services are offered in coordination with the Deep Sequencing and PacBio Cores. The MBCL is also home to the UMass Oligonucleotide program which provides discounted oligos to researchers.

The BSL-3 Core Lab is a campus-wide facility for in vitro experimentation with hazardous pathogens. It is a self-contained laboratory with space and equipment to handle hazardous pathogens with BSL-3 containment as described in the CDC/NIH publication “Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories”. The lab has been specifically approved by the USDA and CDC for research airborne viruses such as the Hong Kong chicken flu, and for select agent research. The laboratory currently has 17 class II biosafety cabinets, biological and microbiological incubators, freezers, centrifuges, a fluorescence plate reader, a spectrophotometer, microscopes, Seahorse Cell Analyzer. A renovation project planned to commence in 2023 will replace existing Autoclaves and update security and equipment monitoring systems. Core also has another BSL3 lab which has 4 class II biosafety cabinets. In addition to incubators, centrifuge and freezer, this lab also houses 10X controller and Cell sorter.

Sanderson Center for Optical Experimentation (SCOPE) at UMass Chan Medical School offers the tools and expertise required to perform a wide variety of quantitative microscopy techniques including super resolution imaging, multi-photon intravital and live tissue imaging, confocal microscopy, and high-speed time-lapse imaging. The SCOPE offers a combination of commercial and custom-built microscopes, allowing users to address an extensive array of biological questions. In addition to user training and access to light microscopes, the SCOPE offers a wide range of imaging services including whole slide scanning, MERFISH spatial transcriptomics, NanoString GeoMx DSP services, and image analysis support. Wet lab facilities, including cell culture, are also available in this BSL2 facility. Imaging at BSL3 is available upon request. We offer remote imaging and data analysis sessions, including remote control of all instruments and workstations. All users are trained individually prior to use of the SCOPE equipment and workstations. Access for external users can be arranged following a consultation regarding project scope and expected outcomes with the Director.

Established in 1981, the Morphology Core Facility is a DERC (Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center) Research Core Laboratory. Major funding for the Morphology Core is provided by a Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center grant from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Bruce Woda, MD , Professor of Pathology Department is the core director.
The Morphology Core Facility is a state-of-the-art, fully equipped histology lab that provides histology services in support of investigators at UMass Medical School, including
• routine histological preparations.
• special stains,
• immunohistochemistry.
• frozen sections.
The core provides advice on techniques that are appropriate in submitting and evaluating morphologic preparations.

The mission of the Transgenic Animal Modeling Core (TAMC) is to produce genetically modified mice, rats, and stem cells for the UMMS Scientific Community in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Over the past 15 years, the TAMC has engineered more than 500 different mouse or rat models, has generated dozens of genetically altered ES cell or induced pluripotent stem cell lines, and has cryopreserved re-derived more than 450 rodent lines for UMASS researchers and other members of the scientific community. The TAMC is composed of two facilities: the Animal Modeling Facility and the Gene Targeting & Stem Cell Facility.

The National Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center (MMPC) at UMass is a National Institutes of Health-sponsored resource (NIH Grant 5U2C-DK093000) that provides an array of sophisticated research tools to the global scientific community for the purpose of investigating mouse models of human diseases with particular focus on diabetes, obesity, and diabetic complications. The mission of the UMass MMPC is to advance medical and biological research by offering comprehensive, standardized, and high-quality experimental testing services to the academic and industry scientists. The UMass MMPC is composed of multidisciplinary group of investigators and leading scientists with state-of-the-art technologies at the UMass Medical School and consists of six complementary Phenotyping Cores. The collective goal of our research program is to find a cure for diabetes and improve human health.

The Core Electron Microscopy Facility provides state-of-the-art methodologies and instrumentation for researchers at UMass Medical School and the surrounding research community. It is located in the lower level of the Medical School (SA-114). The facility is equipped with one scanning and three transmission electron microscopes together with the ancillary equipment required to carry out all key ultrastructural procedures from the tissue to the molecular level.

The X-ray Crystallography Lab is a core facility with operations at UMASS Medical School's Lazare Research and Biotech II buildings. The laboratory provides facilities and resources for conducting research, advanced teaching, and comprehensive data processing. The facility is jointly funded by user fees, departmental contributions and the Office of Research.
Facilities include two detectors (R-AXIS IV, MAR 180) and generators (RU-300 and RU-300HR). The in-house UNIX computing environment supports data processing, 3-D visualization and design. To allocate time on one of the detectors, see the online scheduler.
There are six faculty members associated with the facility. Course work includes graduate classes and professional training.

The Flow Cytometry Facility provides a wide variety of cytometry services for internal and external investigators with state-of-the-art cell sorting and analyzing capabilities. We currently have three FACSCailburs, one 4 laser, one 2 laser and one 5 laser LSRIIs, a 5 laser FACSAria cell sorter, a 3 laser Digital Dako MoFlo XDP hi-speed cell sorter, an all digital 3 laser 11 color FACSVantage SE DiVa cell sorter and a 14 color, 4 laser FACSAria dedicated to BSL3 cell sorting. One LSR II and one Calibur are dedicated for customer use, after training, which we can provide.

The facility headed by Dr. Hong Cao has allowed UMMS scientists a unique opportunity to apply the tools and principles of chemistry to understand the processes of living cells.

The screening facility assists researchers in developing high-throughput (HT) screening assays, performs HT screens of chemical libraries to identify new small molecules that can be used to probe biological processes of interest.

The facility coordinates the screening efforts of UMMS researchers, providing access to diverse chemical libraries and state-of-the art instruments including robotic compound transfer, liquid-handling equipment, imagers and plate readers.

The information from all screens performed at the facility is collected and stored in a central database.

The Cheminformatics database allows researchers to rapidly evaluate and compare results of their screens and can also be used in the future to classify the function of lead structures and biological targets.

Our new Clinical Research Suite within the CRC is dedicated to efficient, reliable and high-quality study support for clinical investigators. For a reasonable cost, investigators can utilize the following services as needed:

Accessible and comfortable space for participants, just off the main lobby of ACC
Six (6) exams rooms for study conduct
Three infusion bays with comfortable recliners for lengthy visits
Touchdown space for visiting researchers, their support staff and external monitors
Conference room for start-up meetings, sponsor visits and research staff use
In-unit laboratory equipped with centrifuge, hematocrit machine, -20 and -80 freezer space
Prep area for packaging and shipping central lab specimens according to protocol requirements
Regulatory support for IRB submissions; assistance with external regulatory communications; assistance with posting to http://www.clinicaltrials.gov

The University Of Massachusetts Cancer Center Tissue and Tumor Bank is an open access biorepository aimed toward the improvement of research in the field of cancer biology. Specifically, the Tissue Bank provides investigators throughout the institution as well external academic and commercial interests the ability to obtain and study human tissue specimens while maintaining patient confidentiality.

The new research dedicated MRI center includes a 3T Philip’s human whole body MRI system for human and animal research, clinical support space, as well as laboratory and office space. Specific areas of research include, but are not limited to, fMRI, cardiac MRI, interventional MRI, and Hyperpolarized Gas MRI.

The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Facility offers state-of-the-art proteomics and small molecule analyses to UMMS investigators and to the external scientific community at large. Resources include a staff of five and support for study design, sample preparation, sample fractionation, instrumentation, informatics, data interpretation, and publication assistance.

With the installation of both cameras, the Bioscan NanoSPECT/CT and the Philip Mosaic PET small animal cameras, UMMS and extramural investigators now have the opportunity of using radioactive agents labeled with SPECT radionuclides such as 99mTc, 111In ,123I 125I and PET radionuclides such as 18F, 64Cu, 68Ga, to follow the pharmacokinetics and biodistributions in mice, rats, rabbits, cats and marmoset monkeys and other small animals of proteins, peptides, oligomers, nanoparticles, and other biomarkers of interest. The CT component of the NanoSPECT camera will provide registration for both cameras and, in addition, can be used without radioactivity for high resolution anatomical imaging.

Services Available:

Study Design, including
General medical studies
Clinical trials (Phase I - IV)
Preclinical
Quasi-experimental designs
Retrospective/prospective studies
Group - randomized designs
Write statistical methods sections for funding applications
Provide sample size and power calculations
Plan and deploy interventions that require health informatics or mobile technologies
Collect and manage your data
Advice on resources available for conducting Health Services and Health Outcomes Research, such as
Claims data (Medicaid, Medicare)
Large survey databases (NHANES, BRFSS)
Study Analysis
Prepare reports and publications

The Clinical and Translational Research Support (CTRS) Core provides assistance to funded research projects involving human participants to ensure that they have sufficient numbers of well-characterized individuals to fulfill the projects\' primary aims. The CTRS Core also provides access and information resources that will support investigators of all types who have clinical and/or translational research interests.
Our Core currently provides the following services:
1.Recruitment of participants;
2.Assessment/characterization of participants;
3.Tracking of recruited participants across multiple projects and maintenance of a database of specialized populations;
4.Coordination of interactions with the UMMS IRB, which includes assisting investigators to submit clear and complete applications and follow-up IRB communications.

This facility is imaging and image guided therapeautic intervention. Services include:

1.Fully equipped sterile angiosurgical suite to support fluoroscopy guided intervention
2.Hemodynamics laboratory for in vitro investigation into the efficacy cardiovascular devices.
3.Xper CT for 3-D reconstruction of vascular tree and soft-tissue imaging.