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.

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.